Blockade of the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Stabilizes Atherosclerotic Plaques in Humans by Inhibiting Prostaglandin E ₂ –Dependent Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity

This study demonstrates that irbesartan decreases inflammation and inhibits COX-2/mPGES-1 expression in plaque macrophages, and this effect may in turn contribute to plaque stabilization by inhibition of MMP-induced plaque rupture.