North B E, Katz S S, Small D M
Atherosclerosis. 1978 Jul;30(3):211-7. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(78)90047-3.
Uncomplicated human atherosclerotic plaques often contain large amounts of cholesterol esters and solid cholesterol monohydrate crystals. If such plaques are to regress the crystalline cholesterol would have to dissolve and be transported out of the arterial wall. Since cholesterol is quite insoluble in water, dissolution of plaque crystals might occur through lipids in the plaque, specifically, the cholesterol esters. As part of a study on feasibility of plaque reversal we have studied a specific step involving the dissolution of cholesterol monohydrate into cholesterol ester oil. With specific considerations of the composition and physical state of the cholesterol ester solvent, the size and form of cholesterol monohydrate crystals, the agitation rate, the temperature and the presence of water, we have found that cholesterol esters are an efficient solvent for cholesterol monohydrate crystals. The rate of dissolution was fast reaching 90% of saturation in 1 h. We conclude dissolution of cholesterol monohydrate into cholesterol ester oil is not a rate-limiting step in reversal of the atherosclerotic plaque. We suggest that transport of dissolved cholesterol from cholesterol ester oil may limit the removal. If transport of dissolved cholesterol could be enhanced, cholesterol monohydrate crystals could be rapidly dissolved and facilitate reversal of atherosclerotic lesions.
单纯性人类动脉粥样硬化斑块通常含有大量胆固醇酯和固态胆固醇一水合物晶体。如果此类斑块要消退，结晶胆固醇就必须溶解并被转运出动脉壁。由于胆固醇在水中的溶解度很低，斑块晶体的溶解可能通过斑块中的脂质，特别是胆固醇酯来实现。作为一项关于斑块逆转可行性研究的一部分，我们研究了一个特定步骤，即胆固醇一水合物溶解于胆固醇酯油中。通过具体考虑胆固醇酯溶剂的组成和物理状态、胆固醇一水合物晶体的大小和形态、搅拌速度、温度以及水的存在，我们发现胆固醇酯是胆固醇一水合物晶体的有效溶剂。溶解速度很快，1小时内达到饱和度的90%。我们得出结论，胆固醇一水合物溶解于胆固醇酯油中并非动脉粥样硬化斑块逆转的限速步骤。我们认为，溶解胆固醇从胆固醇酯油中的转运可能会限制其清除。如果能够增强溶解胆固醇的转运，胆固醇一水合物晶体就能迅速溶解，并促进动脉粥样硬化病变的逆转。
