Role of apoptosis in cardiac allograft vasculopathy

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major long-term complication of h eart transplantation. Coronary endothelial injury provokes immunological re actions leading to inflammation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Recent studies suggest that cell death of endothelial cells during early phases of transplant arteriopathy development proceeds via programmed cell death (apoptosis). The potential role of apoptosis in CAV is discusse d. Based on these concepts, therapeutic strategies might be envisaged aimed at the prevention of apoptosis during the initiating phase of CAV.