One molecular theory of HIV-induced endothelial dysfunction is that HIV synthesizes Tat, a transcriptional protein secreted by HIV-infected cells that increases the expression of adhesion molecules and induces apoptosis of endothelial cells, which allows the penetration of plasma lipids (low density lipoproteins) into the sub-endothelial space where they undergo oxidation. This evidence concerns the gene TAT and endothelial dysfunction.