Cholesterol crystals in atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single largest contributor of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Given the high burden of CVD, prevention through identifying and mitigating risk factors is a priority. The disease is also the leading cause of death for both men and women in Sweden. In 2019, CVD accounted for over 31% of all death for both men and women in Sweden.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries and the underlying cause of myocardial infarction and stroke. To date, the disease remains a major threat to human health worldwide despite of the clinical success in lipid lowering therapeutic strategies. One of the major components of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque is the accumulation of cholesterol crystals (CCs), which is also a potential biomarker of atherosclerosis. In atherosclerotic plaque, CCs are known to induce inflammation and cellular damage in macrophages. However, the role of CCs in inducing pathological changes in human atherosclerotic lesions remains largely unknown.