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. 2019 Dec 13;116(7):1254–1274. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvz338

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Structure and function of LDL receptor family members, LRP1, LRP5/6, ApoER2, and VLDLR in atherosclerosis. LRP1, LRP5/6, ApoER2, and VLDLR belong to the LDL receptor family that shares common structural features, with a large extracellular domain with ligand-binding motifs, EGF-like repeats, and YWTD β-propeller domains, a single transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail with multiple adaptor-binding sites. LRP1 in vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages shows a potent protective role against atherosclerosis. LRP5 and LRP6, the coreceptors for the Wnts signalling receptor Frizzled, also exert anti-atherogenic actions in smooth muscle cells and macrophages. ApoER2 and VLDLR, which does not play a major role in systemic lipid homeostasis, have both anti-and pro-atherosclerotic actions. ApoE binding to ApoER2 in vascular cells leads to decreased inflammation and platelet activation, whereas reelin binding to the receptor causes opposite effects.