An overview of the evolution of the atherosclerotic plaque: from fatty streak to plaque rupture and thrombosis.

Today, there is a wealth of information concerning the chronology of the cellular and molecular events associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. It is now clear that atherosclerosis is largerly a result of a dysregulated fibroproliferative inflammatory response [1]. Treatment of cardiovascular disease is rapidly adapting to this new knowledge and the future holds great potential for preventing the disease by blocking the process at multiple stages. This short review provides an overview of the evolution of the atherosclerotic plaque. It focuses of three basic stages of the disease processes: initiation of the fatty streak, transition of the fatty streak to an atheroma, and progression and destabilization of the lesions leading to plaque rupture and occlusive thrombosis. It includes a discussion of the molecular and cellular biology of the atheraogenic process with an emphasis on key molecular mediators of the disease process and provides three tables which list examples of some of the key molecular mediators and the stages in which they are purported to play a role.