BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Therapeutics: CD36 (GPIV); macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR-1; SR-A; CD204)

March 5, 2015 8:00 AM UTC

In vitro and mouse studies suggest sugar-based amphiphilic nanoparticles could help treat atherosclerosis. Macrophage recruitment and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake via scavenger receptors such as CD36 and MSR-1 contributes to inflammation and plaque growth in atherosclerosis. In human macrophage culture, sugar-based amphiphilic nanoparticles designed to compete with LDL for MSR-1 and CD36 binding decreased oxidized LDL uptake and scavenger receptor expression compared with a control nanoparticle. In a mouse model of atherosclerosis, IV-delivered nanoparticles accumulated in plaques and decreased arterial occlusion, inflammation and lipid accumulation compared with no treatment. Next steps could include testing whether the nanoparticles reduce cardiovascular events in atheroscleroic models...