Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells in vascular remodelling and atherosclerotic plaque rupture

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) h as recently been identified as an important process in a variety of human v ascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, arterial injury, and restenosi s after angioplasty. VSMC apoptosis is regulated by interactions between th e local cell-cell and cytokine environment within the arterial wall, and th e expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins by the cell, including dea th receptors, proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. This review summ arises our current knowledge of the occurrence and mechanisms underlying VS MC apoptosis in atherosclerosis and arterial remodelling. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.