What are lipid-laden macrophages seen in atherosclerotic lesions called?

What are lipid-laden macrophages seen in atherosclerotic lesions called?

• A. Dendritic cells
• B. Kupffer cells
• C. Steroid cells
• D. Foam cells

Answer: (D)

Foam cells are lipid-laden macrophages seen in atherosclerotic lesions. Monocytes migrate into the vessel wall and become macrophages, then ingest modified LDL—especially oxidized LDL—through scavenger receptors in an unregulated way. The cholesterol esters accumulate as droplets inside the macrophages, giving them a foamy, vacuolated appearance under the microscope. This creates the fatty streak, an early sign of atherosclerosis, and foam cells drive plaque progression by releasing inflammatory signals and eventually dying to form a lipid-rich core. Other cell types listed serve different roles—dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells, Kupffer cells are liver macrophages, and steroid cells pertain to hormone-secreting tissues—so they don’t describe the lipid-filled macrophages characteristic of these plaques.

Foam cells are lipid-laden macrophages seen in atherosclerotic lesions. Monocytes migrate into the vessel wall and become macrophages, then ingest modified LDL—especially oxidized LDL—through scavenger receptors in an unregulated way. The cholesterol esters accumulate as droplets inside the macrophages, giving them a foamy, vacuolated appearance under the microscope. This creates the fatty streak, an early sign of atherosclerosis, and foam cells drive plaque progression by releasing inflammatory signals and eventually dying to form a lipid-rich core. Other cell types listed serve different roles—dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells, Kupffer cells are liver macrophages, and steroid cells pertain to hormone-secreting tissues—so they don’t describe the lipid-filled macrophages characteristic of these plaques.