Role of cholesterol in cardiovascular dysfunction.

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia has been shown to cause cardiovascular dysfunction due to direct action on membrane fluidity, enzyme activities and cation transporters in the endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes. On the other hand, development of atherosclerosis by high levels of cholesterol is associated with the oxidation products of cholesterol and is thus considered to affect the cardiovascular system indirectly as a consequence of ischemic heart disease.