Keystone Symposia: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis, a disease that affects arterial blood vessels, is the major cause of death in developed countries and emerging economies worldwide. The disease is initiated when cholesterol-rich low-density lipoproteins adhere to the walls of arteries, triggering a complex set of reactions involving a variety of cell types including macrophages, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and lymphocytes. This initial lesion progresses to a more complicated atherosclerotic plaque through subsequent cell-cell and cell-lipid interactions that cause chronic inflammation, extracellular alterations, and necrosis. These responses promote plaque disruption, which triggers acute thrombosis resulting in vascular occlusion and myocardial infarction. The goal of this meeting is to provide attendees with the latest advances in the understanding of cellular processes that contribute to atherosclerosis, with particular emphasis on cholesterol metabolism and foam cell formation, genetics, and the immune system. These goals will be significantly enhanced by holding the meeting concurrently with the proposed meeting, The Macrophage: Intersection of Pathogenic and Protective Inflammation. In addition to four atherosclerosis-specific plenary sessions, four joint sessions are planned to highlight major developments in areas of mutual interest to investigators in the fields of atherosclerosis and macrophage biology. Elucidation of mechanisms underlying development of atherosclerosis may reveal new therapeutic strategies to combat the disease. This program will stimulate interactions that are likely to augment and accelerate this process.