A 42-Year-Old Man Is Found Dead at Home

A 42-year-old man is found dead at home.  His medical problems included hypertension and dyslipidemia, but he had been noncompliant with his medications.  The patient had a lengthy smoking history and, despite constant urging from his physicians to stop smoking, he had only quit recently.  An autopsy is requested by the family.  Pathological examination shows complete thrombotic occlusion of the left main coronary artery and diffuse atherosclerotic vascular disease characterized by multiple atheromas.  Along with a lipid core, these atheromas have a fibrous cap formed from dense deposition of collagen.  Which of the following cells are directly responsible for synthesizing this fibrous cap?

A) Endothelial cells
B) Interstitial fibroblasts
C) Macrophages
D) Smooth muscle cells
E) T lymphocytes

Correct Answer:

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