Week 7 - Atherosclerosis Flashcards
Where are chylomicrons generated?
in your small intestine
What are chylomicrons referred to as?
exogenous lipoproteins
- lipids come from the diet
What are chylomicrons characterised by?
the fact that they are triglyceride rich
Chylomicrons - Endogenous Pathway
starts in liver with the secretion of VLDL
VLDL Characteristic
triglyceride rich
What is the main function of VLDL and Chylomicrons?
to deliver fatty acids to different tissues
- adipose
= for storage of fatty acids
- cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue
= for the utilisation of fatty acids to generate ATP
What is done to break down fatty acids?
hydrolyse fatty acid content
- done by enzymes that are secreted by those tissue
What is the enzyme that breaks down fatty acids?
lipoprotein lipase (LPL)
What does LDL do?
it is the supplier of cholesterol to the tissues
What type of drugs inhibit cholesterol production?
statins
What is HDL’s main function?
to transport cholesterol from the peripheral tissues peripheral
From the peripheral tissues back to the liver. Either to be repackaged into LDL or to be excreted.
Converted to bile salts for excretion which is secreted into the small intestine
How do Atherosclerotic Plaques from?
monocytes are attracted to oxidised lipoproteins that aggregate and stick to extracellular matrix
monocyte differentiates into macrophages
foam cell (macrophages) ingest lipoproteins
free cholesterol accumulates in membrane and droplets
cholesterol rich plaque forms
- apoptosis, necrosis, tissue damage, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, myocardial infarction, stroke
What does high pressure damage?
endothelial cells
Criteria for Heart Attack
- chest pain
- changes in serial ECG tracing
- rise and fall of serum cardiac biomarkers
eg. creatine kinase-MB or troponin
Myocardial Infarction Timeline
- plaque build up in coronary artery
- rupture of plaque
- thrombus formation = prevents blood flow
- damage to the heart tissue - myocardium
