fig1

Figure 1. Mechanisms of atherogenesis. Atherosclerosis develops as a result of a chain of events including impaired vascular hemodynamics, endothelial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress. These factors promote inflammation involving various cells in both the vascular wall and the peripheral blood flow. DAMP: Damage-associated molecular pattern; LDL: lowdensity lipoprotein; M1: classically activated (proinflammatory) macrophages; M2: alternatively activated (antiinflammatory) macrophages; oxLDL: oxidized lowdensity lipoprotein; PAMP: pathogenassociated molecular pattern; TLR4: tolllike receptor 4. Red and blue arrows indicate pathophysiological mechanisms involved in atherogenesis.