Figure 1.

Schematic representation of the multi-cellular components of the myocardial environment. Atherosclerotic lesions consist of three important components: a fibrous part composed of extracellular lipids and connective tissue matrix, a cellular part composed of immune cells (monocytes, macrophages), and smooth muscle cells and foam cells, which are formed by the accumulation of lipids in macrophages. Cardiomyocytes associate with the neighboring cells such as endothelial cells and fibroblasts and aid in their cellular function. Immune cells adhere to the vascular tissue upon disease condition, and the macrophages engulf lipoproteins to form foam cells, which accelerates atherosclerosis.