[New aspects of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases]

While a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis has not been forthcoming until now, considerable progress has been made in several important areas of the biology of the arterial wall. Progress was mainly accomplished by the use of tissue culture and techniques of molecular biology. Focuses of current interests are the roles of endothelium and of white blood cells, the properties and biological activities of growth factors, and the function of oncogenes.