"Old" hearts and arteries: the role of oxidative stress.

Despite decades of investigation, the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in atherosclerosis and aging have yet to be defined. We have developed mouse models that allow this question to be addressed experimentally. Given the increase in risk factors for atherosclerosis--particularly related to marked increases in obesity and diabetes in industrialized countries--a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that define both atherosclerosis and aging is needed.