Research Interests

Dr. van der Westhuyzen's research is focused on cholesterol trafficking and how lipoproteins contribute to the accumulation of cholesterol in macrophage foam cells that are found in atherosclerotic lesions. inflammation is considered to play a key role in atherosclerosis development and investigations are aimed at understanding the mechanisms by which inflammation influences lipoprotein uptake and cholesterol accumulation in cells. The HDL receptor, SR-BI, mediates the selective delivery of HDL cholesterol ester to cells and plays a key role in mediating "reverse cholesterol transport" from extrahepatic tissues to the liver. The significance and biological functions of SR-BI, CD36 and other members of this "scavenger receptor" family of proteins are being studied. A central hypothesis being examined is that modification and remodeling of HDL during inflammation alters HDL structure and consequently its ability to carry out its atheroprotective function, including its ability to promote cholesterol removal from cells.