fig1

Figure 1. Formation of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis begins at the sites of EC damage or dysfunction, and develops with inflammatory reactions and dynamic interactions among plasma molecules including LDL and Ox-LDL, monocytes and macrophages. EC: endothelial cell; LDL: low density lipoprotein; Ox-LDL: oxidized LDL; CAM: cell adhesion molecule; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SMC: smooth muscle cell