title: Inflammation and immune system interactions in atherosclerosis.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 16.7 million deaths each year. The underlying cause of the majority of CVD is atherosclerosis. In the past, atherosclerosis was considered to be the result of passive lipid accumulation in the vessel wall. Today's picture is far more complex. Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic inflammatory disease that results in the formation of plaques in large and mid-sized arteries. Both cells of the innate and the adaptive immune system play a crucial role in its pathogenesis. By transforming immune cells into pro- and anti-inflammatory chemokine- and cytokine-producing units, and by guiding the interactions between the different immune cells, the immune system decisively influences the propensity of a given plaque to rupture and cause clinical symptoms like myocardial infarction and stroke. In this review, we give an overview on the newest insights in the role of different immune cells and subtypes in atherosclerosis.
authors: Experimental Vascular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), University of Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Legein
authors: Lieve
authors: L
authors: Temmerman
authors: Erik A L
authors: EA
authors: Biessen
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Lutgens
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma