Atherosclerosis, implications signaling

This review reports the more recent evidence for the ability of P-carotene and other carotenoids to modulate cell signaling related to cell growth and implicated in a lot of pathological events, including cancer, inflammation, and atherosclerosis by both redox and non-redox mechanisms. 

Fig. 9.1. A dysfunctional or injured endothelium is at the basis for initiation of and progression to atherosclerosis. Several mechanisms, such as adhesion molecules or liberation of von Willebrand factor (vWf, upper panel), determine a series of phenomena, including platelet activation and aggregation. This participation of platelets involves the implication of molecules like glycoprotein Ilb/IIIa, fibrinogen, and von Willebrand factor. The endothelium also acts as a source of signals that regulate local functions, including VSMCs (lower panel). A list of the most relevant messengers produced by a functional and a dysfunctonal endothelium is presented in the lower panel...

Buchner K, Henn V Grafe M, de Boer OJ, Becker AE, Kroczek FtA. CD40 ligand is selectively expressed on CD4+ T cells and platelets implications for CD40-CD40L signalling in atherosclerosis. J Pathol 2003 201 288-295. 

Change in the cellular redox environment can lead to several biological effects ranging from altered signal transduction pathways, gene expression, mutagenesis and cell death (apoptosis). Oxidative stress has now been implicated in many diseases such as atherosclerosis, Parkinson s disease, Alzheimer s disease, cancer, etc. For the protection of cells from oxidative stress, supplementation with exogenous antioxidants becomes necessary. 

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