Infectious burden and atherosclerosis: A clinical issue

Figure 1 Schematic representation of transversal artery section. Possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms of the infectious agents in atherosclerotic plaque development. C. pneumoniae: Chlamydia pneumoniae; HCMV: Human cytomegalovirus; H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori; M. pneumoniae: Mycoplasma pneumoniae; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus; SMC; Smooth muscle cell; ROS; Reactive oxygen species; LDL; Low-density lipoprotein; Ox-LDL: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein; IL: Interleukin; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor; PAI: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; ELAM-1: Endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1; VCAM-1: Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1; MCP-1: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.