Cell proliferation in human atherosclerosis

Despite the assumed proliferative nature of human atherosclerosis, very few studies exist that measure the actual proliferative rates in human arterial tissue. Recent proliferation-specific antibodies show very low rates of cell proliferation, as might be expected for a disease that takes numerous years to become clinically evident. These levels of proliferation are similar to animal models of hypercholesterolemia-induced atherosclerosis, and are unlike other models of acute mechanical injury to the artery wall. Proliferative activity in atherosclerotic plaques is seen among both smooth muscle cells and mononuclear inflammatory cells.