Fig. 1.

Mechanisms of ox-LDL uptake by macrophages. Native LDL can hardly induce foam-cell formation because of the down regulation of LDL-R. Ox-LDL induces cholesterol accumulation in macrophages through rapid uptake by the SRs, which are not down regulated in response to an increase intracellular cholesterol. LDL: low-density lipoprotein; ox-LDL: oxidized low-density lipoprotein; LDL-R: low-density lipoprotein receptor; SR-A: scavenger receptor A; CD36: cluster differentiating 36; LOX-1: lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor 1.