Genetic analysis of molecular mechanisms of foam cell formation in atherosclerosis

NCEH1在巨噬细胞中的最佳中性pH下对胆固醇酯水解酶起主要作用。 基因敲除研究表明，NCEH1与泡沫细胞形成和动脉粥样硬化的发展有很深的关系。 此外，通过使用酶抑制剂的实验表明，NCEH 1可能是人巨噬细胞中的主要酶，并且免疫组织化学分析表明，NCEH 1存在于抗CD68抗体染色的主动脉区域。 此外，氧化固醇可增强NCEH 1缺失的泡沫细胞的凋亡诱导，并使动脉粥样硬化病变的严重程度增加。 NCEH1是了解动脉粥样硬化发病机制的关键分子，并导致其诊断和治疗等临床应用。

NCEH1 plays a principal role for cholesteryl ester hydrolase at optimal neutral pH in macrophages. Gene-knockout studies revealed that NCEH1 would have a deep relationship with foam cell formation and atherosclerotic development. In addition, it is suggested by experiments using the enzymatic inhibitor that NCEH1 might be a main enzyme in human macrophages and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrate that NCEH1 exists in the aortic area stained by anti-CD68 antibody. Furthermore oxysterols could augment the induction of apoptosis in foam cells lacking NCEH1 and advance the severity of atherosclerotic lesions. NCEH1 is a key molecule to understand the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and lead to clinical applications including its diagnosis and treatment.