Inflammatory response atherosclerosis trigger

Oxidised LDL in the artery wall initiates a series of reactions designed to repair the damage it causes. Initial damage triggers an inflammatory response. Monocytes enter the artery waU from the bloodstream, with platelets adhering to the area of insult. This may be promoted by induction of factors such as vascular ceU adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), a cell-surface sialoglycoprotein that is expressed by cytokine-activated endothelium. This membrane protein mediates leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and signal transduction, and may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. 

Normal Inflammatory responses in an artery wall, triggered by infection or Injury, may lead to the formation and accumulation of cholesterol-filled macrophage foam cells, the first indication of atherosclerosis. 

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