Induction of Adhesion Molecule Expression in Vascular Endothelial Cells by Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein: Pharmaceutical, Biochemical and Clinical Applications

Interactions between lipoproteins and vascular endothelium are considered to be a central component of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cutaneous xanthomas. It is widely accepted that the binding of oxidized low-density lipoprotein to cell membrane receptors activates an intracellular signal transduction pathway that produces adhesion molecules on the surface of endothelial cells. Circulating monocytes adhere to these molecules and subsequently migrate across the cell membrane into the lesions. Growing evidence indicates that the mechanisms of adhesion molecule expression vary depending on the oxidation process of low-density lipoprotein and the organ specificity of the endothelial cells. This review summarizes recent studies involving the induction of adhesion molecule expression in vascular endothelial cells by oxidized low-density lipoprotein, with special attention to the pharmaceutical, biochemical, and clinical applications of this process.