Macrophage scavenger receptors.

Macrophage scavenger receptors are integral membrane proteins whose ability to bind and degrade modified LDL has implicated them in the process of atherosclerotic foam cell formation. Their ability to bind non-lipoprotein ligands suggests that they participate in other macrophage-associated host defense activities. Studies utilizing cloned native and mutant forms of the scavenger receptor have provided insights into the structural basis for their function.