Atherosclerosis is inflammation of the vessel wall of the arterial tree. This inflammation
arises at specific areas that experience disturbed blood flow such as bifurcations and the
lesser curvature of the aortic arch. Although all endothelial cells are exposed to comparable
levels of circulating plasma cholesterol, only endothelial cells overlaying lesions display an
inflamed phenotype. This occurs even in the absence of any additional exacerbating
disease factors because blood flow controls the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) …