pubmed:abstractText |
Atherosclerosis is characterized by lipid accumulation in the vessel wall, inflammation, and both macrophage and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis. However, whereas VSMC apoptosis in mice with established atherosclerotic plaques or hyperlipidemia increases serum levels of the proatherogenic cytokines monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin (IL)-6, the link between hyperlipidemia, apoptosis and inflammation, and the mechanisms by which apoptotic cells promote inflammation in atherosclerosis are unknown.
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pubmed:affiliation |
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 110, ACCI, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK. mchc2@cam.ac.uk
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