Endothelial stiffening in dyslipidemia

Dyslipidemia, an increase in pro-atherogenic low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and its oxidative modifications, oxLDL, is well known to be a crucial factor in endothelial damage, a key early step and a predictor of the development of atherosclerosis. It is also well-known that atherosclerotic plaques develop in regions of low and non-unidirectional disturbed blood flow as is found by branching points, bifurcations, and in the inner curvature of the aortic arch. Our studies demonstrate a novel paradigm for dyslipidemia-induced endothelial damage, an increase in endothelial stiffness induced by the uptake of oxidized lipids