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. 2021 Oct 8;11(10):690. doi: 10.3390/metabo11100690

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Apolipoprotein (apo) B in atherogenic lipoprotein formation. ApoB is the critical structural protein of all atherogenic lipoproteins. It has two major isoforms: apoB48 and apoB100. ApoB48 is found only in chylomicrons (CM) and chylomicron remnants. It mediates the secretion of chylomicron particles from the intestines. Chylomicron remnants are taken up by the liver. Free fatty acids generated from chylomicron remnants are used by the liver to make triglycerides that are incorporated into nascent VLDL. VLDL particles, each harboring a single apoB100 molecule, are secreted from the liver carrying endogenous, hepatically synthesized triglycerides. VLDL particles shrink with loss of surface components to HDL and are catabolized to IDL by lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Then, IDL is converted to LDL. It is LDL that carries the majority of the circulating cholesterol. LDL can be oxidatively modified and taken up by macrophages which leads to excess accumulation and the formation of foam cells.