Apoptosis in inflammatory-fibroproliferative disorders of the vessel wall.
Apoptotic cell death is a hallmark of inflammatory-fibroproliferative disorders of the vessel wall. Here, we review what is currently known about cell death within atherosclerotic and restenotic lesions. We also examine evidence suggesting that inflammatory cells contribute to the regulation of cell turnover within these lesions, and discuss the molecules expressed by vascular cells that modulate these processes. In toto, these studies suggest that apoptosis is prevalent in vascular lesions, controlling the viability of both inflammatory and vascular cells, and thus determining the cellular composition of the vessel wall.
Walsh
K
K
Division of Cardiovascular Research, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, MA 02135, USA. kwalsh@opal.tufts.edu
Isner
J M
JM
D017209:Apoptosis; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019014:fas Receptor