Hyperlipidemia induces endothelial-derived foam cells in culture

Endothelial cells (ECs) play a major role in the pathophysiology of various diseases, conditions in which stress proteins are most probably involved. Both in humans and in experimental models, hyperlipidemia induces early alterations of plasma components that in turn have a profound effect on EC. Activated ECs change their basal characteristics becoming more permeable to lipoproteins, increasing the synthesis of their basal lamina, and express new adhesion molecules; the cells are activated. In lesion-prone areas, the ECs are the first cells to experience the impact of hyperlipidemia. In this study, human ECs were activated by exposure to serum from hyperlipidemic human subjects. In this condition, the EC gradually become loaded with lipid droplets and turn into endothelial-derived foam cells. The EC-derived foam cells express adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, VLA-4), show enhanced intracellular Ca