There is increasing evidence that complement activation may play a role in atherogenesis. Complement proteins have been demonstrated to be present in early atherosclerotic lesions of animals and humans, and cholesterol-induced atherosclerotic lesion formation is reduced in complement-deficient animals. Potential complement activators in atherosclerotic lesions are now a subject matter of debate...

BACKGROUND Oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) seems to play key roles in atherogenesis. Lectinlike Ox-LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a recently identified cell-surface receptor for Ox-LDL. The relationship of this novel receptor for Ox-LDL to atherogenesis, however, has not yet been clarified. In this study, we explored the expression of LOX-1 in the atherosclerotic lesions of human carotid arteries. METHODS A...

We investigated the ability of targeted immunomicelles to detect and assess macrophages in atherosclerotic plaque using MRI in vivo. There is a large clinical need for a noninvasive tool to assess atherosclerosis from a molecular and cellular standpoint. Macrophages play a central role in atherosclerosis and are associated with plaques vulnerable to rupture. Therefore, macrophage scavenger rece...

Background and Purpose—Unstable atherosclerotic plaques are characterized by increased macrophages and reduced smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and collagen content. Endoglin, an accessory transforming growth factor(TGF ) receptor, is a modulator of TGF signaling recently found to be expressed on SMCs in atherosclerotic plaques. Its function in plaque SMCs and plaque development is unknown. Early gro...

Atherosclerosis impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of large conduit arteries. Because coronary resistance vessels are spared from the development of overt atherosclerosis, endothelium-dependent responses were examined in these vascular segments. Malaysian cynomolgus monkeys (n=6) were made atherosclerotic by being fed a 0.7% cholesterol diet for 18 months. Control monkeys (n=6) were fed a...

The endothelium-derived relaxing factor is rapidly inactivated by superoxide radicals, and atherosclerotic vessels generate excess radical species. We tested the hypothesis that an imbalance between intrinsic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the generation of superoxide radicals in atherosclerotic arteries may result in augmented inactivation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Vascu...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Atherosclerotic middle cerebral arteries are frequent sites of thrombosis, leading to stroke. Previous studies have suggested a role for Chlamydia pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, the presence of this pathogen in atherosclerotic middle cerebral arteries has heretofore not been documented. In the present study, we analyzed atheromatous plaques fr...

BACKGROUND This study was designed to investigate the effects of lipid-lowering by simvastatin on human atherosclerotic lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS Eighteen asymptomatic hypercholesterolemic patients with documented aortic and/or carotid atherosclerotic plaques were selected for the study. A total of 35 aortic and 25 carotid artery plaques were detected. Serial black-blood MRI of the aorta a...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the suitability of citrate-coated very small superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (VSOP) as a contrast agent for identifying inflammation in atherosclerotic lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS AND RESULTS VSOP, which have already been evaluated as a blood pool contrast agent for MR angiography in human clinical trials, were investigated in Watanabe ...

BACKGROUND The aim of the present investigation was to test the hypothesis that pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a zinc-binding metalloproteinase implicated in acute coronary syndrome, is associated with atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS The study comprised 433 patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic PAD (i.e., chronic limb ischemia) and 433 controls ...