Prelesional arterial endothelial phenotypes in hypercholesterolemia: universal ABCA1 upregulation contrasts with region-specific gene expression in vivo.

Atherosclerosis originates as focal arterial lesions having a predictable distribution to regions of bifurcations, branches, and inner curvatures where blood flow characteristics are complex. Distinct endothelial phenotypes correlate with regional hemodynamics. We propose that systemic risk factors modify regional endothelial phenotype to influence focal susceptibility to atherosclerosis.