A Synthetic Approach A Synthetic Approach to Dissolving Coronary to Dissolving Coronary

PlaquePlaqueBy: Humberto Fernandez

Heart DiseaseHeart DiseaseBlocked arteries are the leading cause of death in the U.S.

Takes away your artery's ability to intake oxygen-rich blood.

Can lead to...Coronary Artery Disease, Blood Clots, or even worse Heart Attacks

Compromised mostly of cholesterol and forms through Atherosclerosis.

Early Stages of Early Stages of AtherosclerosisAtherosclerosis

A syndrome that affects arterial blood vessels and leads to an inflammatory response

Brought upon by LDL as they don't clear macrophages/cholesterol from the arteries because they become oxidized by free radicals.

These free radicals go on to damage LDL receptors which are necessary for cholesterol management

How the Body How the Body RespondsResponds

Sends macrophages and T-Lymphocytes to absorb the oxidized LDL.

This forms specialized foam cells which attack the endothelium of the artery lumen.

These newly created foam cells finally grow and rupture.

What happens after What happens after the foam cells the foam cells

rupture?rupture?Athermanous plaque forms, with platelets following.

This then encourages the migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells.

Once ruptured, harmful cholesterol is deposited in the artery walls.

Formation of Fatty Formation of Fatty DepositsDeposits

Attracted smooth muscle cells form a fibrous cap between the fatty deposits and artery lining.

Capped fatty deposits are now the plaque that forms in arteries.

Effects of PlaqueEffects of Plaque

Aneurysms

Thrombus

Problem with All Problem with All These RamificationsThese Ramifications

This cardiovascular illness often produces no symptoms

Thrombus can lead to the death of an artery in 5 minutes

Atherosclerosis is a body-wide process

A heart attack or stroke can occur if blood flow is obstructed

How can we fix this How can we fix this problem?problem?

Central reason this whole process occurs is the inability of specific receptors (LDL receptors) to effectively bind to and control cholesterol levels.

By improving such proteins and creating effective proteins that compete with the absorption of cholesterol, we can stop the formation of plaque

Cholesterol's Role in Cholesterol's Role in AtherosclerosisAtherosclerosis

Two types: LDL and HDL

When the cardiovascular system is deregulated in the case of plaque buildup, many LDL molecules appear in the blood without receptors on the peripheral tissue.

Having a large number of these molecules leads to a high risk of atherosclerosis and a malfunction of our body's cholesterol levels.

Two types of plaque are comprised mostly of cholesterol

Fallacy of Cholesterol Fallacy of Cholesterol in Bodyin Body

A lot of people believe cholesterol in your blood is the same cholesterol in the food you eat...but this isn't true.

Instead, our body has natural mechanisms to stop increasing cholesterol levels and actually breaks down the cholesterol in the food we eat.

If your body then needs cholesterol it resembles the pieces as the cholesterol is recycled throughout the body.

Determining if ones Determining if ones arteries are blockedarteries are blockedStress Test

Coronary Angiography

DesignDesign

LDL/HDL Cholesterol Is Present Around Macrophage

Operon is Induced and Every Promoter Sequence is Turned on

0 0

1 1

Truth Table Truth Table

Current TreatmentCurrent Treatment

Statins and their negative effects

Safety of this Design Safety of this Design

Human clinical trials have been conducted on the effect of pterostilbene.

The liver receptors LXRα and LXRβ have been tested with knockout mice.

Phytosterol esters have also generally been recognized as safe (GRAS) status in the US.

Important to Still Live Important to Still Live a Healthy Lifea Healthy Life