**1. Introduction**

190 Biomedical Science, Engineering and Technology

*Chem. Pharm. Bull. (Tokyo).* 1998; 46(1): 113-119.

inhibitors from Brazilian natural medicine, the leaves of Myrcia multiflora DC. (Myrtaceae): structures of myrciacitrins I and II and myrciaphenones A and B".

> Atherosclerosis, an inflammatory disease which causes thickening and stiffening of arteries, is a major cause of death in the United States (Lloyd-Jones et al., 2010). These deaths occur because of vessel occlusion created by atherosclerotic plaques and thrombus shedding, leading to heart attack, ischemia, or stroke. Atherosclerosis is expected to be the leading cause of death worldwide within 10 years (Lloyd-Jones et al., 2010).

> Inflammation plays a significant role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The cells that line the arteries, endothelial cells (ECs), mediate the inflammatory process. The forces created by blood flow affect the inflammatory response of ECs and the interaction with blood components. This chapter summarizes the background in our recent studies on the response of ECs to blood forces and the interaction of inflammatory cells.
