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Roles for lipid‐activated transcription factors in atherosclerosis
Author(s) -
Nagy Laszlo,
Szanto Attila
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.200500097
Subject(s) - nuclear receptor , foam cell , receptor , transcription factor , microbiology and biotechnology , peroxisome proliferator activated receptor , biology , chemistry , lipoprotein , cancer research , cholesterol , endocrinology , biochemistry , gene
The initial cellular event in atherosclerosis is the recruitment of monocytes to the vessel wall, and the formation of foam cells by the uptake of modified lipoproteins. The role of macrophages in this process is the uptake and processing of lipoproteins ultimately leading to foam cell formation. These cells also sustain a chronic inflammatory reaction believed to participate in disease progression. We have been interested in identifying regulatory processes contributing to these events. Some members of a distinct class of transcription factors, nuclear hormone receptors, are expressed in macrophages and are likely to have roles in the initiation of atherosclerosis. We review here the identification of interrelated nuclear receptor‐regulated pathways involving peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor, liver X receptor, and retinoid receptors, and contributing to lipid uptake and efflux in macrophages.