Cell Adhesion Molecules in Cardiovascular Pathology – A Glance into the Future?

Increasing evidence shows that atherosclerosis is a low-grade chronic inflammatory disease. The interaction between the arterial wall and circulating blood cells like monocytes and T lymphocytes is an important step in this inflammatory process. This interaction is mediated via transmembrane glycoprotein receptors known as cellular adhesion molecules (CAM). The expression of these molecules is provoked by a variety of cardiovascular risk factors and is under the control notably of inflammatory cytokines, hemodynamic factors, bacterial endotoxins. Recently, data from large prospective studies have shown that an increased concentration of CAM predicts an increased cardiovascular risk. There is an increasing interest in CAM as a new therapeutic target in atherosclerosis.