RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Targeting Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products
JF Pharmacological Reviews
JO Pharmacol Rev
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 596
OP 670
DO 10.1124/pr.118.017178
VO 71
IS 4
A1 Dongdong Wang
A1 Yang Yang
A1 Yingnan Lei
A1 Nikolay T. Tzvetkov
A1 Xingde Liu
A1 Andy Wai Kan Yeung
A1 Suowen Xu
A1 Atanas G. Atanasov
A2 Qiang Ma
YR 2019
UL http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/71/4/596.abstract
AB Foam cell formation and further accumulation in the subendothelial space of the vascular wall is a hallmark of atherosclerotic lesions. Targeting foam cell formation in the atherosclerotic lesions can be a promising approach to treat and prevent atherosclerosis. The formation of foam cells is determined by the balanced effects of three major interrelated biologic processes, including lipid uptake, cholesterol esterification, and cholesterol efflux. Natural products are a promising source for new lead structures. Multiple natural products and pharmaceutical agents can inhibit foam cell formation and thus exhibit antiatherosclerotic capacity by suppressing lipid uptake, cholesterol esterification, and/or promoting cholesterol ester hydrolysis and cholesterol efflux. This review summarizes recent findings on these three biologic processes and natural products with demonstrated potential to target such processes. Discussed also are potential future directions for studying the mechanisms of foam cell formation and the development of foam cell-targeted therapeutic strategies.