Statins and Lipid Lowering Drugs I

Question 1

What is atheroma?

Answer 1

Build up of fatty deposits which form a plaque.

Question 2

What are the stages of atheroma formation?

Answer 2

Endothelial Dysfunction
Inflammation
Adhesion
Thrombus Formation

Question 3

What are the risk factors for atheroma formation?

Answer 3

Hypertension

Dyslipidemia

Question 4

What is dyslipidemia?

Answer 4

This is when an ABNORMAL amount of lipids in the blood is present = Body can’t remove LDL from the blood.

Question 5

What are the primary disorders of dyslipidaemia?

Answer 5

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia

Polygenic lipid disorders

Question 6

What are the secondary disorders of dyslipidaemia?

Answer 6

Hypothyroidism 
Type 2 diabetes 
Alcohol Abuse 
Thiazide Diuretics 
Beta Blockers

Question 7

What type of fats are triglycerides?

Answer 7

Dietary Fats

Question 8

What is used for screening of lipids?

Answer 8

Total cholesterol levels
LDL + HDL cholesterol
Triglycerides

Question 9

What is the strong correlation between LDL cholesterol levels in the blood and the risk of coronary heart disease?

Answer 9

HIGHER levels of cholesterol in the blood results in being at a greater risk of suffering from coronary heart disease.

Question 10

What are lipoproteins?

Answer 10

A core FULL of fat and cholesterol alongside lipid membranes which contains proteins called APOLIPOPROTEINS.

Question 11

What are Apolipoproteins?

Answer 11

Act like identification tags for DIFFERENT lipoproteins in the body.
Allow transport of lipoproteins.

Question 12

Why are apolipoproteins known as ligands?

Answer 12

They bind lipids in order to form lipoproteins.

Question 13

Where are the exogenous sources of lipids made from?

Answer 13

These arise from dietary fats.

Question 14

Where are the endogenous sources of lipids made from?

Answer 14

These are made in the liver.

Question 15

In what form are exogenous sources of lipids absorbed from the intestine?

Answer 15

These are absorbed from the intestine in the form of chylomicrons.

Question 16

How are endogenous sources of lipids secreted?

Answer 16

Secreted as vLDL.

Question 17

What is the purpose of lipoprotein lipase?

Answer 17

These remove triglycerides so that it can be taken up into the tissues for storage alongside being used for energy.

Question 18

What are the 3 sources when metabolised can produce Acetyl - coA?

Answer 18

Glycogen
Triglycerides
Proteins

Question 19

What can Acetyl - coA be converted into?

Answer 19

Cholesterol.

Question 20

What percentage of the cholesterol made in the body is made by the liver?

Answer 20

50%

Question 21

Where is cholesterol synthesised?

Answer 21

Cholesterol is synthesised by the liver and the hepatic tissues.

Question 22

What is the purpose of HMG - CoA reductase?

Answer 22

This inhibits the synthesis of cholesterol.

Known as a ‘Rate Limiting Step’.

Question 23

What is the purpose of vLDL?

Answer 23

This is the MAIN transporter of fatty acids.

Question 24

Where does LDL transport cholesterol?

Answer 24

To the tissues.

Question 25

What is the purpose of HDL?

Answer 25

When the liver empties -> EXCESS cholesterol is picked up and brought back to the liver. This removes cholesterol from tissues and bloodstream.

Question 26

What is the ligand for LDL receptors?

Answer 26

Apo - B100.

Question 27

What are high levels of App - B100 associated with?

Answer 27

High risk of cardiovascular disease.

Question 28

What is the name of the subspecies of LDL?

Answer 28

Lipoprotein A

Question 29

What causes there to be a subspecies of LDL?

Answer 29

It is a genetic variation.

Question 30

What does Lipoprotein A contain?

Answer 30

APO - A and APO - B.

Question 31

What are high levels of Lipoprotein A associated with?

Answer 31

Atherosclerosis -> due to these lipoproteins depositing in the blood vessels when in high quantity.

Question 32

What substance do LDL receptors recognise on LDL?

Answer 32

Apoprotein B100.

Question 33

What is the link between LDL receptors and cholesterol levels?

Answer 33

The HIGHER the levels of LDL receptors -> the LOWER the levels of cholesterol.

Question 34

What happens when the LDL binds to the receptor?

Answer 34

Receptor is ENDOCYTOSED. LDL is removed for usage in the cell. Receptor is RECYCLED back to the membrane.

Question 35

Why does the condition familial hypercholesterolaemia occur?

Answer 35

There is either a reduction // defect in the LDL receptors.

Question 36

What is PCSK9?

Answer 36

It is a proprotein convertase = Activates OTHER proteins.

Question 37

Where does PCSK9 circulate?

Answer 37

In the bloodstream.

Question 38

What happens when LDL binds to LDL - PCSK9 receptors?

Answer 38

When the LDL binds -> the receptors are endocytosed as usual but the PCSK9 presence means the LDL receptors are sent to the lysosome where it is DEGRADED.

Question 39

What is the health condition associated with high levels of PCSK9?

Answer 39

Cardiovascular Disease.