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
. 2025;32(15):3044-3068.
doi: 10.2174/0109298673348217241119063941.

The Role of Lipids in Atherosclerosis: Focus on Molecular Biology Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches

Mohammed A Akram  1 , Abdelhamid Khodja  1 , Sarah Dalibalta  1 , Amin F Majdalawieh  1
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Lipids in Atherosclerosis: Focus on Molecular Biology Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches

Mohammed A Akram et al. Curr Med Chem. 2025.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a complex vascular disease characterized by the buildup of lipids, inflammatory cells and fibrous components in arterial walls leading to plaque formation and potential thrombotic events like myocardial infarction and strokes. Recently, there has been research on the roles of various types of lipids such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, oxidized LDL (oxLDL) cholesterol and small dense LDL (sdLDL) in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. These lipoproteins contribute to dysfunction and inflammation processes that play a role in the development and instability of plaques. Moreover, certain enzymes and proteins linked to lipids have been associated with atherosclerosis highlighting the complex interplay between lipid metabolism and inflammation in this disease. This review delves into the mechanisms behind atherosclerosis focusing on the involvement of lipids, enzymes and regulatory proteins. Additionally, it will also discuss present treatments as well as new therapeutic approaches that target these molecular mechanisms with the goal of advancing our knowledge about atherosclerosis and guiding future treatment strategies.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; LDL; arterial plaque; cardiovascular disease; inflammatory pathways.; lipid metabolism.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

  • Effect of Inflammation and Infection on Lipids and Lipoproteins.
    Feingold KR, Grunfeld C. Feingold KR, et al. 2025 Jun 18. In: Feingold KR, Ahmed SF, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, Boyce A, Chrousos G, Corpas E, de Herder WW, Dhatariya K, Dungan K, Hofland J, Kalra S, Kaltsas G, Kapoor N, Koch C, Kopp P, Korbonits M, Kovacs CS, Kuohung W, Laferrère B, Levy M, McGee EA, McLachlan R, Muzumdar R, Purnell J, Rey R, Sahay R, Shah AS, Singer F, Sperling MA, Stratakis CA, Trence DL, Wilson DP, editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000–. 2025 Jun 18. In: Feingold KR, Ahmed SF, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, Boyce A, Chrousos G, Corpas E, de Herder WW, Dhatariya K, Dungan K, Hofland J, Kalra S, Kaltsas G, Kapoor N, Koch C, Kopp P, Korbonits M, Kovacs CS, Kuohung W, Laferrère B, Levy M, McGee EA, McLachlan R, Muzumdar R, Purnell J, Rey R, Sahay R, Shah AS, Singer F, Sperling MA, Stratakis CA, Trence DL, Wilson DP, editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000–. PMID: 26561701 Free Books & Documents. Review.
  • Exploring Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Cardiovascular Pathologies: The Impact of Lipid Profiles, PAD4, and Radiation.
    Dabravolski SA, Bukrinsky MI, Utkina AS, Ravani AL, Sukhorukov VN, Orekhov AN. Dabravolski SA, et al. Biocell. 2025;49(6):931-959. doi: 10.32604/biocell.2025.062789. Epub 2025 Jun 24. Biocell. 2025. PMID: 40786884 Free PMC article.
  • The Effect of Endocrine Disorders on Lipids and Lipoproteins.
    Feingold KR. Feingold KR. 2023 Apr 6. In: Feingold KR, Ahmed SF, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, Boyce A, Chrousos G, Corpas E, de Herder WW, Dhatariya K, Dungan K, Hofland J, Kalra S, Kaltsas G, Kapoor N, Koch C, Kopp P, Korbonits M, Kovacs CS, Kuohung W, Laferrère B, Levy M, McGee EA, McLachlan R, Muzumdar R, Purnell J, Rey R, Sahay R, Shah AS, Singer F, Sperling MA, Stratakis CA, Trence DL, Wilson DP, editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000–. 2023 Apr 6. In: Feingold KR, Ahmed SF, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, Boyce A, Chrousos G, Corpas E, de Herder WW, Dhatariya K, Dungan K, Hofland J, Kalra S, Kaltsas G, Kapoor N, Koch C, Kopp P, Korbonits M, Kovacs CS, Kuohung W, Laferrère B, Levy M, McGee EA, McLachlan R, Muzumdar R, Purnell J, Rey R, Sahay R, Shah AS, Singer F, Sperling MA, Stratakis CA, Trence DL, Wilson DP, editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000–. PMID: 28121116 Free Books & Documents. Review.
  • Systemic pharmacological treatments for chronic plaque psoriasis: a network meta-analysis.
    Sbidian E, Chaimani A, Garcia-Doval I, Doney L, Dressler C, Hua C, Hughes C, Naldi L, Afach S, Le Cleach L. Sbidian E, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Apr 19;4(4):CD011535. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011535.pub4. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 May 23;5:CD011535. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011535.pub5. PMID: 33871055 Free PMC article. Updated.
  • Lipids and lipoproteins in the interstitial tissue fluid regulate the formation of dysfunctional tissue-resident macrophages: Implications for atherogenic, tumorigenic, and obesogenic processes.
    Lee-Rueckert M, Jauhiainen M, Kovanen PT, Escolà-Gil JC. Lee-Rueckert M, et al. Semin Cancer Biol. 2025 Sep;114:104-127. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2025.06.008. Epub 2025 Jun 20. Semin Cancer Biol. 2025. PMID: 40545184 Review.
See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Trkanjec Z.; Demarin V.; Atherosclerosis and inflamation. Acta Clinica Croatica Available from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Atherosclerosis-and-Inflamation-Tr...
    1. Majdalawieh A.F.; Yousef S.M.; Abu-Yousef I.A.; Thymoquinone, a major constituent in Nigella sativa seeds, is a potential preventative and treatment option for atherosclerosis. Eur J Pharmacol 2021,909,174420 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ojio S.; Takatsu H.; Tanaka T.; Ueno K.; Yokoya K.; Matsubara T.; Suzuki T.; Watanabe S.; Morita N.; Kawasaki M.; Nagano T.; Nishio I.; Sakai K.; Nishigaki K.; Takemura G.; Noda T.; Minatoguchi S.; Fujiwara H.; Considerable time from the onset of plaque rupture and/or thrombi until the onset of acute myocardial infarction in humans: Coronary angiographic findings within 1 week before the onset of infarction. Circulation 2000,102(17),2063-2069 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Schoenhagen P.; Tuzcu E.M.; Ellis S.G.; Plaque vulnerability, plaque rupture, and acute coronary syndromes: (Multi)-focal manifestation of a systemic disease process. Circulation 2002,106(7),760-762 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wang L-M.; New understanding on the pathogenesis of acute arterial thrombosis. J Geriatr Cardiol 2015,12(3),204-207 - DOI - PubMed

Substances

LinkOut - more resources