title: Arterial wall injury and proteoglycan changes in atherosclerosis.
abstract: The concept of injury as a mechanism leading to atherosclerosis has been fostered by numerous studies of initiating factors and by observation of the response of cardiovascular connective tissue, ie, cellular and extracellular matrix components. Carbohydrate-protein macromolecules of the extracellular matrix are a complex group of biologically important substances that play a crucial role in mesenchymal tissue repair following injury, a process needed to maintain arterial wall integrity. Of particular interest are the proteoglycans that enter into a variety of roles, from that of inhibiting atherosclerosis and helping to maintain fibrillar structures to that of taking part in lipid deposition in the development of atherosclerosis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011509:Proteoglycans