[The role of adhesion molecules in the immunopathogenesis of atherosclerosis]

Advances in the studies on the structure and role of adhesive particles make possible putting forward of the hypothesis that they may also play a significant role in the immunopathogenesis of atherosclerosis. It was demonstrated that in the earliest phase of atherosclerosis development, increased adhesion occurred of monocytes to the vascular endothelium, while autopsy examinations showed the presence of monocytes and T-cells within atherosclerotic lesions. The present studies concentrate on the role of individual adhesive particles as determinants of the above phenomena.