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Orekhov et al. Vessel Plus 2019;3:3 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2018.80

Review Open Access

Low density lipoprotein-induced lipid accumulation
is a key phenomenon of atherogenesis at the arterial
cell level

Alexander N. Orekhov, Veronika A. Myasoedova

Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow 125315, Russia.
Correspondence to: Dr. Alexander N. Orekhov, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow 125315, Russia.
E-mail: a.h.opexob@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Orekhov AN, Myasoedova VA. Low density lipoprotein-induced lipid accumulation is a key phenomenon
of atherogenesis at the arterial cell level. Vessel Plus 2019;3:3. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1209.2018.80

Received: 22 Dec 2018 First Decision: 24 Dec 2018 Revised: 2 Jan 2019 Accepted: 3 Jan 2019 Published: 13 Feb 2019

Science Editor: Alexander N. Orekhov Copy Editor: Cui Yu Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract
Lipid accumulation in cells of subendothelial intima and the formation of foam cells is the earliest and the most
noticeable manifestation of atherosclerosis at the cellular level. Generally, the foam cell formation is the result of
interaction of cell with pro-atherogenic low-density lipoprotein providing cholesterol delivery and anti-atherogenic high-
density lipoprotein providing its efflux. In this review, we discuss possible mechanisms of foam cell formation, the role
of intracellular lipid deposition as a trigger of atherosclerotic lesion development, current approaches to diagnostics and
strategies for preventing atherosclerosis based on recent knowledge of causes of foam cell formation.

Keywords: Atherogenesis, atherosclerosis, foam cells, diagnostics, desialylation, low-density lipoprotein, subendothelial cells,
therapy

INTRODUCTION
In most cardiovascular diseases epidemiology is related to atherosclerosis. As early as atherosclerotic lesions
began to be studied under a microscope, it was found that the fundamental difference of atherosclerotic
cells from normal ones is their foamy cytoplasm. This foamy structure is explained by numerous lipid
inclusions in the form of fatty drops and granules that often fill the whole cell body and its processes. Lipid
accumulation in cells of subendothelial intima and the formation of foam cells is the earliest and the most
noticeable manifestation of atherosclerosis at the cellular level. At any stage, from the earliest microscopic

© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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