The hypothesis that plasma chylomicrons in persons who ingest a cholesterol-rich diet are atherogenic is evaluated. Evidence is presented that in humans, and experimental animals, chylomicron remnants as well as low-density lipoproteins are taken up by arterial cells. In persons who do not have familial hyperlipoproteinemia, atherogenesis may occur during the postprandial period. Research direc...

PHARMACOLOGY. For the article ‘‘Beneficial effects of antioxidants and L-arginine on oxidation-sensitive gene expression and endothelial NO synthase activity at sites of disturbed shear stress,’’ by Filomena de Nigris, Lilach O. Lerman, Sharon Williams Ignarro, Giacomo Sica, Amir Lerman, Wulf Palinski, Louis J. Ignarro, and Claudio Napoli, which appeared in issue 3, February 4, 2003, of Proc. N...

The molecular basis of atherosclerosis is associated with excessive proliferation of vascular cells. Previous studies have suggested an inverse correlation between the expression of the growth suppressor p27 (p27) and cellular proliferation within human atherosclerotic tissue. However, no causal link between diminished p27 expression and atherogenesis has been established. We investigated the e...