**Meet the editor**

Dr. Rita Rezzani is a full professor and Chair of Human Anatomy at University of Brescia (Italy). Her scientific fields of work include the immunosuppressive effects of cyclosporine A, the oxidative stress and the morphological alterations induced by cardiovascular diseases. As of recently her interest involves the beneficial effect of natural antioxidants, in particular of melatonin, in sev-

eral diseases. She is interested to study both the therapeutic and protective melatonin effects and she is working on this with important scientists from all around the world. She is the author of 158 full-length publications and she participated in writing several books regarding cardiovascular diseases and atherogenesis.

Contents

**Preface VII**

**Atheroprotection 1**

**Therapeutic Targets 55**

and Dorien M. Schrijvers

Godoi

Flegar-Meštrić

**Muscle Cells 121**

Martine Glorian and Isabelle Limon

Chapter 1 **Atherosclerosis and Current Anti-Oxidant Strategies for**

Luigi Fabrizio Rodella and Gaia Favero

Chapter 2 **Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the Endothelium: A Contribution to Athero-Susceptibility 27**

Alessandra Stacchiotti, Gaia Favero and Rita Rezzani

Chapter 3 **Dendritic Cells in Atherogenesis: From Immune Shapers to**

Chapter 4 **Atherogenesis: Diseases that May Affect the Natural History**

**"Schistosomiasis and HIV Infection" 81**

Chapter 5 **The Evaluation of New Biomarkers of Inflammation and Angiogenesis in Peripheral Arterial Disease 97**

Chapter 6 **The Role of Cyclic 3'-5' Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) in**

**Differentiated and Trans-Differentiated Vascular Smooth**

Ilse Van Brussel, Hidde Bult, Wim Martinet, Guido R.Y. De Meyer

Carlos Teixeira Brandt, Emanuelle Tenório A. M. Godoi, André Valença, Guilherme Veras Mascena and Jocelene Tenório A. M.

Sonja Perkov, Mirjana Mariana Kardum Paro, Vinko Vidjak and Zlata
