Copyright
©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Oct 16, 2014; 2(10): 497-506
Published online Oct 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i10.497
Published online Oct 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i10.497
Practical strategies for modulating foam cell formation and behavior
Elisabeth Uitz, Babak Bahadori, Department of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital of St. Poelten, Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health and Life Sciences, Probst-Fuehrer-Str. 4, Austria
Mark F McCarty, Catalytic Longevity, Carlsbad, CA 92009, United States
Mohammed H Moghadasian, Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R2H 2A6 Manitoba, Canada
Author contributions: Uitz E designed and wrote the manuscript and performed the majority of data analysing; Bahadori B and McCarty MF provided analytical tools and were also involved in data analysing and editing the manuscript; Moghadasian MH co-ordinated and provided the data collection of all the human material in addition to providing mental support for this work.
Correspondence to: Elisabeth Uitz, MD, Department of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital of St. Poelten, Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health and Life Sciences, 3100 St. Poelten, Probst-Fuehrer-Str. 4, Austria. elisabeth.uitz@aon.at
Telephone: +43-2742-900472221 Fax: +43-2742-900419006
Received: February 10, 2014
Revised: August 5, 2014
Accepted: August 27, 2014
Published online: October 16, 2014
Revised: August 5, 2014
Accepted: August 27, 2014
Published online: October 16, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Reverse cholesterol transport from foam cells is of key importance to prevention and control of atherosclerosis. This essay reviews the molecular biology of foam cell regulation, and proposes that certain agents may be capable of acting directly on foam cells to amplify reverse cholesterol transport while also promoting plaque stability by limiting foam cell production of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases. Phase 2 inducers such as lipoic acid and green tea catechins, spirulina, salicylate, taurine, and 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activators such as metformin or berberine, appear to have potential in this regard-while acting in additional ways to benefit vascular health.