CD36 and hyperlipidemia: Studies showed that hyperlipidemia-induced apoptosis mediated by CD36 was associated with increased uptake of ox-LDL or fatty acid in macrophages leading to atherosclerotic lesions[12], in hepatocytes leading to liver damage and fibrosis in obese patients[13], and in proximal tubular epithelial cells leading to progressive diabetic nephropathy[14].