Unravelling the role of cellular microvesicles on lymphatic vessel function

动脉粥样硬化是加拿大死亡率和发病率的主要原因之一。它是由胆固醇和炎症细胞在血管（动脉）壁中的积累驱动的，这些细胞形成了所谓的“斑块”。许多努力已经针对增加高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C，或“好胆固醇”）的循环水平以减小斑块大小，并因此减小冠状动脉疾病（CAD）的患病率。然而，提高血浆HDL-C水平的临床结果令人失望，表明这种策略可能不会导致胆固醇动员能力增加或预防CAD。由于迫切需要更好地了解胆固醇清除过程，除了胆固醇向胆固醇受体（如HDL）的转化之外，我和合作者将重点放在

Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Canada. It is driven by the accumulation of cholesterol and inflammatory cells in the blood vessel (artery) wall that build up what is called a "plaque". Much effort has been directed at increasing circulating levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, or "good cholesterol") to decrease plaque size and consequently, prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, raising plasma levels of HDL-C has met with disappointing clinical outcomes, suggesting that this strategy may not lead to an increased cholesterol mobilization capacity or prevent CAD. As there is an urge to better understand the cholesterol clearance process, beyond the transition of cholesterol onto cholesterol acceptors such as HDL, collaborators and I have focused on the