Evidence suggests that much of the LDL in atherosclerotic plaques is aggregated. Aggregation of LDL could be an important factor that determines how this lipoprotein is metabolized by plaque macrophages and the fate of aggregated LDL cholesterol within plaques. This review discusses a novel endocytic pathway by which macrophages process aggregated LDL.
Section of Experimental Atherosclerosis, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH, Buiulding 10, Room 5N113, 10 Center Drive MSC-1422, Bethesda, MD 20892-1422, USA. kruthh@nhlbi.nih.gov
