Platelets Mediate Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein–Induced Monocyte Extravasation and Foam Cell Formation

Abstract

Our results on OxLDL-mediated platelet-monocyte aggregate formation, which promoted phenotypic changes in monocytes, monocyte extravasation and enhanced foam cell formation in vitro and in vivo, provide a novel mechanism for how platelets potentiate key steps of atherosclerotic plaque development and plaque destabilization.