Pharmacology of Lipid-Lowering Drugs

• What is the difference between atheroma, atherosclerosis & arteriosclerosis?

  Atheroma - fatty deposit within inner lining of an artery

  Atherosclerosis - chronic inflammatory condition with buildup of plaques in arterial walls

  Arteriosclerosis - hardening of arteries
• What is a lipoprotein?

  Package of lipids & proteins
• CV risk correlates with high LDL & low HDL.
• What is the LDL receptor?

  Single pass type I membrane protein

  Widely distributed

  Binds to LDL & transports into cells via endocytosis
• What are the 2 different types of familial hypercholesterolaemia?

  Type I -> mutation in LDL receptor

  • autosomal dominant
  • decreases expression of LDL receptor -> decrease affinity of LDL -> less uptake of LDL

  Type II -> mutation in ApoB

  • autosomal dominant
  • prevents binding to LDL receptor
• What are the different types of lipid/cholesterol transport?

  From gut via lymph to body/liver = exogenous pathway

  From liver to body = endogenous pathway

  From body to liver = 'reverse cholesterol transport'

  From liver to gut & back again = 'enterohepatic circulation'