Retention of fluorescent-labelled chylomicron remnants within the intima of the arterial wall--evidence that plaque cholesterol may be derived from post-prandial lipoproteins.

Plaque cholesterol is thought to be derived exclusively from low-density lipoproteins that have become trapped and modified in the subendothelial space of arterial vessels. However, in this study we provide the first visual evidence that demonstrates that (a) remnants of post-prandial lipoproteins rapidly penetrate arterial tissue; (b) efflux is not complete; and (c) focal accumulation of chylomicron remnants occurs within the subendothelial space. The arterial retention of chylomicron remnants is consistent with atherogenesis being in part a post-prandial phenomenon.