title: [Major pathogenic links of atherosclerosis].
abstract: The experimental and clinical data concerning pathogenesis of the atherosclerosis are summarized and analyzed in this article. Major concepts that explain initiation and progressive growth of atherosclerosis such as lipid infiltrations, response to disturbing factors, "response on the keeping of particles" and inflammatory processes are discussed. These concepts are considered as base for integral theory of atherosclerosis according which the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis are the result of the universal response reaction of endothelium to the various disturbing risk factors. Chronic inflammation leads to complex cellular and molecular interactions among cells derived from the endothelium, smooth muscle and several blood cell components and causes oxidative stress, proliferation of smooth muscle cells, oxidative modification of LDL, uptake and macrophage foam cell formation, endothelium dysfunction. Major pathogenic links of atherosclerosis, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, oxidative modification of LDL, lipid infiltration, endothelial dysfunction closely interact, forming close vicious circles which leads to metabolic and morphological disturbances, re-modulation of blood vessels, cardiovascular diseases and such complication as cardiac infarction and stroke. Pathogenic peculiarities of atherosclerosis are the theoretic base to the elaboration of therapeutic strategy. Endothelium may be discussed as a new therapeutic target in atherosclerosis. So far as the leukotrienes play an important role in inflammatory processes, it is suggested that the leukotrienes may be as a potential therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Antelava
authors.forename: K Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Pachkoriia
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Kezeli
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Nikuradze
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Shamkulashvili
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals