Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the blood vessels caused by elevated levels of lipoproteins. The hyperlipoproteinemia triggers a series of cellular changes, particularly the activation of the macrophages, which play a crucial role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The presence of free cholesterol (FC) in lipoproteins may contribute to macrophage stimulation. However, the mechanisms linking the accumulation of FC in macrophages to their pro-inflammatory activation remain poorly understood. Our research found a positive correlation between the number of pro-inflammatory macrophages (CD14 + CD16 + CD36high) in visceral adipose tissue and the levels of LDL-C and cholesterol remnant particles in 56 healthy people. In contrast, the proportion of anti-inflammatory, alternatively activated macrophages (CD14 + CD16-CD163+) correlated negatively with HDL-C. Additionally, our in vitro study demonstrated that macrophages accumulating FC promoted a pro-inflammatory response, activating the TNF-α and chemokine CCL3 genes. Furthermore, the accumulation of FC in macrophages alters the surface receptors on macrophages (CD206 and CD16) and increases cellular granularity. Notably, the CD36 surface receptor and the ACAT and CD36 genes did not show a response. These results suggest a link between excessive FC accumulation and systemic inflammation to underlie the development of atherosclerosis.

• Klíčová slova
• adipose tissue, atherosclerosis, cholesterol/cell and tissue, inflammation, lipoproteins,
• MeSH
• aktivace makrofágů MeSH
• antigeny CD36 metabolismus   MeSH
• ateroskleróza metabolismus   MeSH
• CD antigeny metabolismus   MeSH
• cholesterol * metabolismus   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• makrofágy * metabolismus   imunologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• nitrobřišní tuk metabolismus   MeSH
• TNF-alfa metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• zánět * metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antigeny CD36 MeSH
• CD antigeny MeSH
• cholesterol * MeSH
• TNF-alfa MeSH