Palmitate promotes monocyte atherogenicity via de novo ceramide synthesis

► Palmitate but not oleate induces a proatherogenic increase in CD11b and CD36 expression in monocytes. ► Elevated CD11b in palmitate-treated monocytes associates with increased adhesion to endothelial bifurcations. ► Increased CD36 expression promotes the uptake of oxidized LDL in palmitate-treated monocytes. ► Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular C16 ceramide, and sphingomyelin are increased by palmitate but not oleate. ► Inhibition of de novo ceramide synthesis but not ROS mitigated the phenotypic changes in monocytes induced by palmitate.