Fig. 5.

Coordinated Regulation of Endothelial Atheroprotective Phenotype. This diagram depicts the proposed central role of the transcription factor KLF2 in the coordinated regulation of multiple endothelial-genetic programs that contribute to a “vasoprotective phenotype” (see Parmar et al., 2006) (35). In the physiological setting, the biomechanical stimuli present in atherosclerosis-resistant vascular geometries would serve to maintain local endothelial KLF2 expression; alternatively treatment with Statins could act to upregulate KLF2 in lesion-prone areas or augment its physiologic regulation in the face of atherosclerotic risk factors.