Figure 1.

Summary of interactions involving an exchange of soluble factors between macrophages and VSMCs in atherosclerosis. Depiction of a vessel with an endothelial layer on the top and fibrous cap producing VSMCs lying underneath. Macrophage secretion of unestablished soluble factors, TNF-α, IL-5, and oxLDL mediated activation lead to transcriptional changes in VSMC. Solid arrows correspond to enhanced activity and dotted lines represent down regulated processes. Modifications result in increased monocyte recruitment, plaque instability, subendothelial calcification, and inflammation.