LOX-1-The Multifunctional Receptor Underlying Cardiovascular Dysfunction -

Oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is the initial change in the vascular wall that induces morphological changes for atheroma-formation. Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) was identified as the receptor for oxLDL that was thought to be major cause of endothelial dysfunction LOX-1 has been demonstrated to contribute not only to endothelial dysfunction, but also to atherosclerotic-plaque formation, myocardial infarction and intimal thickening after balloon injury. Recent findings on the genetics of LOX-1 and the methodology to detect it and its ligands would further facilitate the examination of the receptor's pathophysiological contribution in atherosclerosis Furthermore, LOX-1 related tools might open new gateways from diagnosis to therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases (Circ J 2009, 73: 1993-1999)