New Antiplatelet Agent Clopidogrel To Prevent Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation And Development Of Research

Background/Introduction Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Although it was formerly considered a bland lipid storage disease, substantial advances in basic and experimental science have illuminated the role of inflammation and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to atherosclerosis. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis contains an important inflammatory component, especially, in early lesion. Early lesion is characterized by the adhesion of leukocytes, particularly monocytes, to the vascular endothelium at sites of injury. After migration into lesion-prone areas of the arterial vascular, monocytes ingest lipids to become foam cells, which is a hallmark of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Leukocyte extravasation occurs in several steps, regulated by distinct adhesion molecules. A breakthrough came with the description of the "three-step-model" of the development of the early lesion and inflammatory response by Butcher and Springer.The first step is the initiation of leukocyte rolling along the activated endothelium, a process mainly mediated by the selectins: calciumdependent low-affinity adhesion molecules consisting of L-selectin (leukocytes), E-selectin (endothelium), and P-selectin (platelets and endothelium). Studies using immunohistochemistry have shown increased expression of P-selectin protein on the...