The human is a very sophisticated organism in which adaptation is the key
to its survival. During a lifetime, the human body is exposed to a wide
variety of stimuli. Some of them are self-inflicted while others arise from
the environment and nature itself. Communication plays an important role
in the response to these stimuli. The main signal transduction in the human
body is organized by electrical signals through nerves or by transportation
of biomolecular signals through blood vessels. These blood vessels also
provide the organs with nutrients and oxygen. When these communication
channels are compromised, the human body will try to repair them or find
alternative channels.
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease affecting the arterial blood vessels.
The prevalence of atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular disease is
36.3% and the disease is at the top of the list of the 15 leading causes
of death in the USA. If the carotid arteries (which supply the brain with
blood) are affected the disease can lead to a stroke, which is the third
most common cause of death and is also responsible for 5 million
permanently disabled persons per year world wide. Removal of the
obstructing atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid bifurcation has reduced
the risk of a stroke, but more knowledge on the development of
atherosclerotic disease is required to improve treatment.http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/22092/101110_Groen%2C%20Harald%20Christian.pdf
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