TABLE 1.
Comparison of flow patterns, cellular events and atherogenecity between straight part of the aorta and its branch points.
| Arterial vessels | Straight part | Branch points |
|---|---|---|
| Flow pattern | Laminar | Disturbed |
| Net forward flow | Large | Small |
| Stress fiber alignment | Along long axis | Not aligned |
| Monocyte adhesion | Low | High |
| EC turnover & LDL permeability |
Low | High |
| Inflammatory genes | Down-regulated | Up-regulated |
| Genes to raise intracellular lipids |
Down-regulated | Up-regulated |
| Effect on atherogenesis | Anti-atherogenic | Pro-atherogenic |