Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases result from atherosclerotic lesions and account for 31% of the world mortality. A major risk factor for atherosclerosis is smoking, which enhances the atherogenic process upon the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR) evoked by cigarette smoke contaminants. These receptors belong to the bHLH/PAS protein superfamily and induce the expression of pro-atheroge…