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Foam cell
Fat-laden M2 macrophages seen in atherosclerosis / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Foam cells, also called lipid-laden macrophages, are a type of cell that contain cholesterol. These can form a plaque that can lead to atherosclerosis and trigger myocardial infarction and stroke.[1][2][3]
Foam cell | |
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![]() Foam cells (one indicated by arrows) visible in the finger-like projections into the gallbladder lumen in a case of cholesterolosis | |
Details | |
Precursor | monocyte-derived macrophage |
Identifiers | |
MeSH | D005487 |
FMA | 83586 |
Anatomical terms of microanatomy |
Foam cells are fat-laden cells with a M2 macrophage-like phenotype. They contain low density lipoproteins (LDL) and can be rapidly detected by examining a fatty plaque under a microscope after it is removed from the body.[4] They are named because the lipoproteins give the cell a foamy appearance.[5]
Despite the connection with cardiovascular diseases they might not be inherently dangerous.[6]
Some foam cells are derived from smooth muscle cells and present a limited macrophage-like phenotype.[7][8][9]