title: The inflammasome in atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is the cause of morbiditiy for 70% of patients with type 2 diabetes. In both of these diseases, a protein complex known as the inflammasome is stimulated to activate interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18, which are pathogenic inflammatory cytokines. Triggers for the inflammasome are obesity-related factors, such as cholesterol crystals in atherosclerosis, or hyperglycemia, ceramides, and islet amyloid polypeptide in type 2 diabetes. Therapeutics that target IL-1β in clinical trials for type 2 diabetes might also decrease the incidence of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Centre, Inflammation Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. smasters@tcd.ie
authors.forename: Seth L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: Eicke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Latz
authors.forename: Luke A J
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058847:Inflammasomes; D020382:Interleukin-18; D053583:Interleukin-1beta