Endothelial Damage and Stem Cell Repair in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by leukocyte infiltration,smooth muscle cell accumulation and neointima formation[1]. Activation and damage of the endothelial monolayer seems to trigger the development of the lesions. Initially,it was thought that the damaged endothelial cells were replaced by the adjacent intact endothelium.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by leukocyte infiltration, smooth muscle cell accumulation and neoinfima formation. Activation and damage of the endothelial monolayer seems to trigger the development of the lesions. Initially, it was thought that the damaged endothelial cells were replaced by the adjacent intact endothelium. However, recent studies demonstrated the recruitment and incorporation of vascular progenitor cells into atherosclerotic lesions and thus provided evidence in support of the role of vascular cells in the development of the disease.