Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases result from atherosclerotic lesions andaccount for 31% of world mortality. One of the biggest risk factors foratherosclerosis is smoking, which accelerates the atherogenic process by activatingaryl hydrocarbon (AhR) receptors by smoke contaminants from thecigarette. These receptors belong to the bHLH / PAS protein superfamily andinduce the expression of pro-atherog…