Toll-Like Receptor-4 Is Expressed by Macrophages in Murine and Human Lipid-Rich Atherosclerotic Plaques and Upregulated by Oxidized LDL

Abstract

Our study demonstrates that TLR-4 is preferentially expressed by macrophages in murine and human lipid-rich atherosclerotic lesions, where it may play a role to enhance and sustain the innate immune and inflammatory responses. Moreover, upregulation of TLR-4 in macrophages by oxidized LDL suggests that TLR-4 may provide a potential pathophysiological link between lipids and infection/inflammation and atherosclerosis.