My work involves the study of atherosclerosis, a disease that is currently the number one killer in the United States as well as other Western societies. Atherosclerosis is characterized by overgrown fatty plaques in the arteries that obstruct the flow of blood.
Many factors can contribute to the developement of atherosclerosis.
One of these factors is the lipoprotein family. There are many lipoproteins and all deliver cholesterol and other fats to the tissues of the body. They do so by entering the blood system and reach the tissues through the extensive cardiovascular blood vessel network. A number of these lipoproteins can enter the arteries to cause cholesterol accumulation. It is not that cholesterol accumulation is the only cause of atherosclerosis but that these lipoproteins appear to have unique biological effects that cause damage to the arteries.