Activation of endothelial cells by proinflammatory stimuli results in increased migration of
leukocytes across the endothelium, which contributes to the progression of atherosclerosis.
Thus, control of the inflammatory status of endothelial cells, which is achieved by a balance
of pro-and antiinflammatory signals, is crucial to limiting the disease. The mitogen-activated
protein kinases (MAPKs) are a family of central signaling molecules that respond to
numerous stimuli by phosphorylating a variety of substrates including transcription factors …