Current research suggests that inflammation increases the risk
of plaque rupture in atherosclerosis. The related report by
Ovchinnikova et al, "T cell activation leads to reduced collagen
maturation in atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE-deficient- mice,"
appears in the February 2009 issue of The American Journal of
Pathology. Atherosclerosis is a disease of arterial blood
vessels where fats, cholesterol, blood cells, and fibers form
hardened plaques on the artery wall. These plaques restrict
blood flow to tissues such as the heart and brain by narrowing
the artery. Atherosclerosis can be caused by high blood
pressure, high fat and high cholesterol diets, smoking, and
diabetes. People with atherosclerotic plaques often show no
symptoms for decades. Atherosclerotic plaques consist of lipid
cores covered by collagen fiber caps. These plaques can suddenly
rupture, resulting in blood clots that completely block blood
flow and lead to heart attack or stroke in otherwise healthy
individuals. One potential cause of plaq