Foam cell
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.
| Foam cell | |
|---|---|
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 only be truly detected by examining a fatty plaque under a microscope after it is removed from the body. They are named because the lipoproteins give the cell a foamy appearance.
Despite the connection with cardiovascular diseases they might not be inherently dangerous.
Some foam cells are derived from smooth muscle cells and present a limited macrophage-like phenotype.
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