General Health

March edition of Science&Vie explores the possibility of reducing the excessive impact of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a type of insoluble lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and is transported in the blood plasma. It is highly associated as the major cause of atherosclerosis, which could result in some fatalities, such as heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease attacks.

The cholesterol cycle is illustrated on the diagram. In certain amount, cholesterol is indeed required by our body for certain biochemical processes. The liver has the main role on the cholesterol regulation. Cholesterol is transported by means of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) from the liver to our cells and tissues, and then returned to the liver by means of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) for the next recycling. When the LDL is excessive, oxide LDL could be formed. It is this oxide LDL that infiltrates the blood vessels; causing inflammations results in “hardening” or “furring,” which are most fatal when occur on arteries supplying oxygen and nutrients to brain or heart.

Another factor to disturb the cholesterol balance is CETP (cholesterylester transfer protein). CETP is a plasma protein that facilitates the transport of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides between the lipoproteins. It picks up triglycerides from LDL and exchanges them for cholesteryl esters from HDL, and vice versa. Thus CETP could transform HDL back into LDL, causing more excessive LDL on our blood system.

The vaccines are proposed to avoid, or to reduce the intensity, of the destruction caused by the excessive cholesterol. Currently there are three opportunities for the vaccines to have role on.

1. Restoring LDL Regulation CETP vaccine, is expected to provoke the body immunity system to form CETP-destructing antibodies.
2. Oxide LDL Reduction Oxide LDL vaccine; is expected to enhance the body immunity system to avoid infiltration by oxide LDL.
3. Inflammation Avoidance Performed by activating regulating lymphocytes to neutralise inflammation effects on blood vessels.

Post to: delicious, Digg, ma.gnolia, Stumbleupon