Translational Cardiovascular Research Center seminar series

Monthly seminar series presents Dr. Daisy Sahoo, PhD

Topic: Receptor-mediated approaches to reducing cardiovascular risk

Atherosclerosis, a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), is an inflammatory disease resulting from the buildup of cholesterol in plaque along the artery walls. As such, the development of strategies to lower plasma cholesterol levels remains a high priority. While various lipid-lowering therapies designed to prevent cholesterol from accumulating in the blood have proved successful, such treatments are sometimes accompanied by adverse side effects and residual CVD risk.

In this seminar, we will discuss three different receptor-based approaches to reducing plasma cholesterol and CVD risk. At the level of the macrophage, we will focus on the roles of CD36 (an oxidized LDL receptor) and free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4) in the development of atherosclerosis. We will also discuss SR-BI, a receptor responsible for mediating HDL cholesterol delivery to the liver for whole body cholesterol excretion.