Function
It is thought that scavenger receptors participate in the removal of many foreign substances and waste materials in the living body by extensive ligand specificity and a variety of receptor molecules.
In atherosclerotic lesions, macrophages that express scavenger receptors on their plasma membrane aggressively uptake the oxidized LDL deposited in the blood vessel wall inside and become foam cells, and they secrete various inflammatory cytokines and accelerate the development of atherosclerosis.
Read more about this topic: Scavenger Receptor
Famous quotes containing the word function:
“The fact remains that the human being in early childhood learns to consider one or the other aspect of bodily function as evil, shameful, or unsafe. There is not a culture which does not use a combination of these devils to develop, by way of counterpoint, its own style of faith, pride, certainty, and initiative.”
—Erik H. Erikson (1904–1994)
“The press and politicians. A delicate relationship. Too close, and danger ensues. Too far apart and democracy itself cannot function without the essential exchange of information. Creative leaks, a discreet lunch, interchange in the Lobby, the art of the unattributable telephone call, late at night.”
—Howard Brenton (b. 1942)
“Uses are always much broader than functions, and usually far less contentious. The word function carries overtones of purpose and propriety, of concern with why something was developed rather than with how it has actually been found useful. The function of automobiles is to transport people and objects, but they are used for a variety of other purposes—as homes, offices, bedrooms, henhouses, jetties, breakwaters, even offensive weapons.”
—Frank Smith (b. 1928)