[The role of collagen matrix in atherogenesis]

The different types of collagen including Types I, III, IV, V, VI and VIII are distributed in the artery. The atherosclerotic lesions, such as fatty streaks and atheromatous plaques, are characterised by an increase in types V and VI, which are localized in the region with a deposition of LDL and an infiltration of macrophages. Vascular smooth muscle cells interact with various types of collagen. Collagen matrices induce an enhancement of differentiation and suppression of cellular proliferation of "normal" smooth muscle cells. However, transformed smooth muscle cells fail to interact with various types of collagen. These results suggest that the interaction between vascular cells, including smooth muscle cells, macrophages and endothelial cells and collagen matrices is important in atherogenesis.