Assessing residual cardiovascular risk and vulnerable plaques via non-traditional lipids: From biomarkers to novel targets for precision therapy

Figure 2 Pathogenic mechanism of lipoprotein(a). Lipoprotein(a) induces an inflammatory response through oxidized phospholipids, facilitates the accumulation of pro-atherosclerotic cholesterol in the vascular wall, and exerts a prothrombotic effect by inhibiting plasminogen activation. These properties collectively accelerate the progression and destabilization of vascular plaques. OxPL: Oxidized phospholipids; Lp(a): Lipoprotein(a); Apo(a): Apolipoprotein(a); VCAM-1: Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; IL: Interleukin; VLDLR: Very low-density lipoprotein receptor; tPA: Tissue plasminogen activator.