Fig. 7From: Exosomes of pasteurized milk: potential pathogens of Western diseasesDairy milk exosomes and atherogenesis. Milk exosomes are taken up by monocytes and macrophages. miR-148a stimulates the differentiation of monocytes to macrophages, especially of macrophages of the pro-inflammatory M1 type. miR-148a-mediated suppression of low density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) expression increases circulating LDLs that after ageing-dependent chemical modifications are scavenged by macrophages. miR-148a-mediated suppression of ATP binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) attenuates reverse cholesterol transport and thus further promotes lipid accumulation in macrophages. miR-148a-mediated suppression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) enhances the expression of adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) further promoting foam cell formationBack to article page