Biology of the Arterial Wall

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIV

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2. The Vascular Wall under Physiological Conditions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Morphologic Aspects of the Large Artery Vascular Wall

      • Bernard I. Levy, Alain Tedgui

      Pages 3-12

   3. Mechanics of the Large Artery Vascular Wall

      • Bernard I. Levy

      Pages 13-24

   4. Neurohumoral Control of the Vascular System

      • Stéphane Laurent

      Pages 25-47

   5. Endothelial Function and Dysfunction

      • Paul Vanhoutte, Chantal Boulanger

      Pages 49-70

   6. Mechanical Factors and Vascular Biology

      • Alain Tedgui, Stéphanie Lehoux, Bernard Levy

      Pages 71-100

   7. Angiogenic Growth Factors

      • Cedric J. Gaultier, Jean-Baptiste Michel

      Pages 101-113

   8. Angiogenesis

      • Harry A. J. Struijker Boudier, Frank R. M. Stassen, Ferdinand A. C. le Noble

      Pages 115-128

   9. Vascular Aging

      • Joël Belmin

      Pages 129-147

3. The Vascular Wall under Pathological Conditions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 149-149

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   2. Vessel and Inflammation

      • Catherine Bernard

      Pages 151-192

   3. Apoptosis in Normal and Pathological Vessels

      • Ziad Mallat, Alain Tedgui

      Pages 193-213

   4. Stiffness of Wall Material in Human Hypertension

      • Michel E. Safar

      Pages 215-233

   5. Pathobiology of Atherosclerosis

      • Alain Tedgui, Catherine Bernard, Ziad Mallat

      Pages 235-258

   6. Arterial Gene Transfer

      • Laurent J. Feldman, Ph. Gabriel Steg

      Pages 259-274

4. Back Matter

   Pages 275-278

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Biology of the Arterial Wall is intended as a general reference text concerned with the biology of the vascular cells and the blood vessel wall under physiological and pathological conditions. One of the major functions of the arteries is to maintain a continuous blood flow to the organs whatever the pressure conditions, thanks to the vasomotor tone of the smooth muscle cells. Great advances have been made over the last decade in the understanding of the endothelial cells as integrators and transducers of signals originating from the blood stream. The pluripotent control functions of the endothelial cells in the vessel wall are now well recognized. A review of endothelial functions and dysfunctions is presented.
Cell biology and molecular genetic studies have now identified an array of molecules elaborated by endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells and by the blood-borne elements which interact with artery cells, defending the artery against injury and modulating evolving abnormal processes. Molecules which induce or inhibit endothelial and/or smooth muscle cells are currently under great scrutiny. Angiogenesis, which plays a major role in tumor growth, but may also be beneficial as a healing process in muscle ischemia, is discussed.
Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, has only recently been recognized as an essential process in blood vessel modeling and remodeling. An overview of apoptosis in the vascular system is presented.
It is increasingly evident that the adjustments of the blood vessel wall are made in the presence of deforming disease processes such as hypertension and atherosclerosis.
The second part of the book is concerned with the blood vessel wall in disease conditions. Several chapters review the role of the vessel and vascular cells in inflammation, and vascular remodeling during arterial hypertension and aging. One chapter is devoted to atherogenesis, atheroma and plaque instability, followed by the pathophysiology of post-angioplasty restenosis, which is a crucial issue in modern interventional cardiology.

• blood vessel
• cells
• endothelium
• hypertension
• pathophysiology
• physiology
• smooth muscle

`... a timely, complete and useful review of the arterial wall in states of health and disease. This is the first book that I am aware of that covers recent advances in such a thorough manner under a single cover. Although the editors have aimed it at clinicians and researchers, it will be more valuable to the latter.'
Journal of Vascular Surgery, 32:2 (2000)

• Lariboisiére hospital, INSERM U141, Paris, France

  Bernard I. Levy, Alain Tedgui

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