Fig. 2.

Foam cell formation and metabolism of OxLDL in atherosclerotic lesions. LDL particles are transferred into the vessel wall tissues, where they are oxidized. After the oxidation of LDL, the resulting OxLDL is recongnized by scavenger receptors and taken up by macrophages. A portion of the intimal smooth muscle cells de-differentiate and migrate into the area of intimal thickening. Activated smooth muscle cells are also able to accumulate OxLDL. OxLDL is degraded in lysosomes after being taken up by the cells, but this degradation is not fully completed. Partially degraded modified apoB fragments thus accumulate in the lesions.