In human tissues, normal homeostasis requires intricately balanced interactions between
cells and the network of secreted proteins known as the extracellular matrix. These …

There is now a large body of evidence suggesting that the decline in ovarian function with
menopause is associated with spontaneous increases in proinflammatory cytokines. The …

Background An increased level of Lp (a) lipoprotein has been identified as a risk factor for
coronary artery disease that is highly heritable. The genetic determinants of the Lp (a) …

The activity of TGF-β1 is regulated primarily extracellularly where the secreted latent form
must be modified to expose the active molecule. Here we show that thrombospondin-1 is …

Lipoprotein (a)(Lp (a)) is a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-like particle bound to
apolipoprotein (a). Increased Lp (a) levels are an independent, heritable causal risk factor …

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily signaling pathways are ubiquitous and
essential regulators of cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, migration …

Fibrosis is the production of excessive amounts of connective tissue, ie, scar formation, in
the course of reactive and reparative processes. Fibrosis develops as a consequence of …

The concentration of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in plasma has been correlated
with the development of several diseases, including atherosclerosis and certain forms of …

The role of vascular cells during inflammation is critical and is of particular importance in
inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, ischemia/reperfusion, and septic shock …

ContextAtherosclerotic vascular disease is an enormous public health problem. A number of
emerging risk factors for atherosclerosis have recently been proposed to help identify high …