Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2004 Apr;15(2):175-81.
doi: 10.1097/00041433-200404000-00010.

Lipoprotein receptors in the vascular wall

Affiliations
Review

Lipoprotein receptors in the vascular wall

Joachim Herz et al. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2004 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of review: We will discuss the diverse roles of lipoprotein receptors that contribute to the maintenance and integrity of the vascular wall.

Recent findings: Lipoprotein receptors function not only as transporters for cholesterol and other lipids. They also act as sensors and signal transducers through which the endothelium, macrophages and smooth muscle cells communicate with their environment.

Summary: Traditionally, lipoprotein receptors were thought of merely as transporters of cholesterol and triglycerides to specific target cells, either for the purpose of delivery and redistribution of nutrients, or for the destruction or clearance of modified (oxidized) lipids by macrophages. Only recently have we begun to appreciate that the same receptors engage in a much more sophisticated and multi-faceted interaction with their environment. Inasmuch, they not only act as mere transporters, but as surprisingly versatile and adaptive signal transducers and modulators throughout the vessel wall. These recent findings now begin to reshape our thinking of how such structurally different and evolutionarily unrelated lipoprotein receptors orchestrate the response of the vessel wall to mechanical or metabolic damage.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources