Novel targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of death in developed countries and thus demands the development of safe therapeutic treatments. Novel risk factors, in addition to the traditional targets, are being assessed. The significance of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaque development has become indisputable. A large number of published studies support the fact that investigations of the inflammatory aspects of atherosclerosis will be the target for future development. The C-reactive protein in particular has drawn specific attention due to its role as an inflammatory marker of atherosclerosis. Novel targets for atherosclerotic intervention include inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis and absorption such as acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase, acyl-coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase and cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors, potential novel antioxidants other than anti-inflammatory peroxisome proliferator activated receptor agonists, and apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptides.