Arterial inflammation and atherosclerosis.
Arterial inflammation is a significant component of atherosclerotic disease and it has been suggested that specific immune responses directed against autoantigens or pathogen-derived antigens presented in the vascular wall could initiate and/or maintain atherosclerotic processes. Atherogenic cofactors such as altered cholesterol metabolism may not only impact locally on inflammatory responses in atherosclerotic lesions, but may also alter general immune-responsiveness. The evidence to date suggests that the mutual chronic perpetuation of immune mediated vascular inflammation and cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis is a key step in atherogenesis.
Ludewig
Burkhard
B
Institute of Experimental Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. ludewigb@pathol.unizh.ch
Zinkernagel
Rolf M
RM
Hengartner
Hans
H
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001167:Arteritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001324:Autoantigens