[Factors affecting the trans-endothelial accumulation of atherogenic plasma proteins in artery walls]

Our experiments were done to find out whether there are factors which influence the passage of the two major "risk factor proteins" LDL and fibrinogen, other than their plasma concentrations, from the blood into the arterial walls, where their accumulation is associated with atherogenesis. The results suggest that administration of a remarkable variety of pressor agents over a few days accelerate the uptake of both proteins by arterial walls, and that, in contrast, the process is no faster in rats that have been spontaneously, i.e., genetically, hypertensive for about 3 months. Considering our experimental findings in relation to human atherosclerotic disease, it is interesting that the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke is increased more than additively when both LDL or fibrinogen levels and systolic or diastolic blood pressures are high (18,46). If our work should point to some mechanistic connection between blood pressure and the accumulation of atherogenic plasma proteins in arterial walls, it would provide, at least in principle, an explanation for the epidemiological facts.