Michael Spartalis*, Eleftherios Spartalis, Antonios Athanasiou, Stavroula A. Paschou, Christos Kontogiannis, Georgios Georgiopoulos, Dimitrios C. Iliopoulos and Vassilis Voudris Pages 1041 - 1051 ( 11 )
Atherosclerotic disease is still one of the leading causes of mortality. Atherosclerosis is a complex progressive and systematic artery disease that involves the intima of the large and middle artery vessels. The inflammation has a key role in the pathophysiological process of the disease and the infiltration of the intima from monocytes, macrophages and T-lymphocytes combined with endothelial dysfunction and accumulated oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are the main findings of atherogenesis. The development of atherosclerosis involves multiple genetic and environmental factors. Although a large number of genes, genetic polymorphisms, and susceptible loci have been identified in chromosomal regions associated with atherosclerosis, it is the epigenetic process that regulates the chromosomal organization and genetic expression that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Despite the positive progress made in understanding the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the knowledge about the disease remains scarce.
Endothelium, endothelial dysfunction, molecular, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, systematic artery disease.
Division of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens, Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, "Aghia Sophia" Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, "Alexandra" Hospital, University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, "Alexandra" Hospital, University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Division of Cardiology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens