[Vessel wall lipids in human atherosclerosis].

Relative content of linoleic acid in the fraction of cholesterol esters was increased in "unaltered" intima of human aorta in course of aging. Due to this phenomenon the fatty acid composition of this lipid fraction became similar to the composition of cholesterol esters in lipoproteins of low density, observed in blood of persons at the age of 50 and older. Lipids were accumulated extracellularly in intima of aorta in the course of aging. The high ratio of linoleic acid was also typical for the fatty acid composition of cholesterol esters in fibrous patch with area of atheromatosis (amorphous accumulation of fat, localized out of the cells). These data demonstrate that lipoproteins of low density from blood serum may serve as a source of accumulation of lipids both in "unaltered" intima in the course of ageing and in fibrous patch. The lower ration of linoleic acid and relatively higher content of oleic acid were the characteristic properties of cholesterol esters from lipid spots ("early impairment") as compared with intima and atheroma. Cells of lipid spots, filled with fat, might apparently degrade the liproproteins from blood serum and the liberated cholesterol could be esterified by fatty acids, newly synthesized or preformed in the cells.