ABSTRACT
Atherosclerosis, by definition, the hardening of blood vessels, features the involvement of several elements of the connective tissue. The alterations of the extracellular components are manifested early on in the disease process as enhanced vascular permeability and focal thickening of the intimal layers of medium-size and large arteries. The intimal thickening consists of the accumulation of various extracellular matrix macromolecules in the walls of the affected blood vessels. The mechanisms involved in the excess production of the matrix materials are poorly understood. However, at various stages of the disease, excess amounts of extracellular matrix components, such as collagen, proteoglycans, fibronectin, and various other glycoproteins, are found in the affected areas of blood vessels. In addition to the accumulation of matrix glycoproteins, some of the matrix components demonstrate abnormal structural forms and altered distribution in the lesions of the vessel wall.
