Pericoronary Adipose Tissue as Possible Supply Site and Storage for Lipoproteins in Human Coronary Artery

Abstract

It is a general belief that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) enters from the lumen into the vessel wall and oxidized (oxLDL) and acts as an important pro-atherogenic role in atherosclerosis and the anti-atherogenic substances such as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and its component apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), also enters from the lumen. However, definite in vivo clinical evidence is lacking. We have demonstrated immunohistochemically that native oxLDL, HDL and ApoA1 co-saved in adipocytes in the majority of human pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) samples, and obtained marks that they are conveyed by either CD68(+) macrophages or vasa vasorum to the adjacent coronary. These results recommended the existence of before unrecognized storing and supply site of these proteins and that therapies directing the PCAT could be active in stopping human coronary atherosclerosis.