The role of transforming growth factor-β1 [factor-beta-1] and its targets in pulmonary arterial hypertension [Elektronische Ressource] / by Fotini Margarita Kouri

The Role of Transforming Growth Factor-1 and its Targets in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Inaugural Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD-Degree of the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine of the Justus Liebig University Giessen by Fotini Margarita Kouri of Corfu, Greece Giessen 2009 From the Department of Medicine Director / Chairman: Prof. Dr. Werner Seeger of Medicine of the Justus Liebig University Giessen First Supervisor and Committee Member: Second Supervisor and Committee Member: Committee Members: Table of contents Table of contents Table of contents ······························································································ I List of figures ······································· IV List of tables ·········································· V List of abbreviations ······················································································ VI Summary ·············································· IX Zusammenfassung ·························································································· X 1. Introduction ······································ 1 1.1 The pulmonary vascular system ································································· 1 1.2 Structure of pulmonary arteries ································································· 2 1.