title: Current Understanding of Atherogenesis.
abstract: Scientific understanding of atherogenesis is constantly developing. From Virchow's observations 160 years ago we now recognize the endothelial response to injury as inflammatory, involved in all stages of atherosclerosis. Endothelial activation may cause reversible injury or dysfunction, or lead to irreparable damage. Indeed, early atherosclerosis is reversible. The introduction of genome-wide association testing has furthered the identification of potentially important genetic variants that help explain the heritability of coronary artery disease as well as spontaneous cases of severe coronary artery disease in patients with otherwise minimal risk factors. However, the mechanisms by which many of the newer variants exert their influence remain unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, United Kingdom; Cardiology Department at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, City Hospital and Sandwell Hospital, West Bromwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shantsila
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, City Hospital and Sandwell Hospital, West Bromwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chetan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, United Kingdom; Cardiology Department at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, City Hospital and Sandwell Hospital, West Bromwich, United Kingdom. Electronic address: g.y.h.lip@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans
keywords: Atherogenesis; Coronary artery disease; Genetic factors; Inflammation