AtherosclerosisCaitlin Cleary

Biochemistry Spring ‘12

What is it?A type of arteriosclerosis characterized by

changes in the endothelial lining and the formation of a plaque

Occurs in people whose blood contains elevated levels of plasma lipids, such as cholesterol

Causes chest pain, heart attack, and strokeCan lead to coronary artery disease

How does it occur?

InflammationPromotes initiation and development of

atherosclerosis, and therefore contributes to fast forming acute blood clots

Inflammation can be triggered by:InfectionObesityHypertension

Who is at risk?Everyone!By the time young adults reach their 30s,

some degree of atherosclerosis has developed in 80 to 90% of people in the united states

Nearly 50% of the US population has elevated LDL cholesterol

PreventionStart monitoring for risk factors in

adolescentsFasting Lipid ProfileEvaluate for hypertensionScreen for diabetesScreen for metabolic syndrome

Therapeutic Lifestyle ChangesDietPhysical activityCessation of smoking

Current TreatmentsDietary supplements and herbal preparations

are questionableLDL Cholesterol-Lowering Therapies

StatinsEzetimibeEicosapentaenoic acid from Fish OilNiacin

Future Treatment?Oral Anit-CD3 Antibody Treatment Study

Treated mice with 5 microgram dosage of anti-CD3 antibody for 5 days 50% reduction in lesion formation 38% reduction in accumulation of macrophages 30% decrease in T-cell infiltration

Works CitedCampbell, Mary K., & Farrell, Shawn O. (2012). Biochemistry.

Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.Lewis, Sandra J. (2009). Prevention and Treatment of

Atherosclerosis: A Practitioner’s Guide for 2008. The American Journal of Medicine, 122(1A), 38-50.

Libby, Peter., Ridker, Paul M., & Maseri, Attilio. (2002). Inflammation and Atherosclerosis. Journal of the American Heart Association, 105, 1135-1143.

Sasaki, Naoto., Yamashita, Tomoya., Takeda, Masafumi., Shinohara, Masakazu., Nakajima, Kenji., Tawa, Hideto., et al. (2009). Oral Anti-CD3 Antibody Treatment Reduces Regulatory T Cells and Inhibits the Development of Atherosclerosis in Mice. Journal of the American Heart Association, 120, 1996-2005.