title: Role of interleukin-18 in destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque in humans.
abstract: Precise location of IL-18 in cell and tissue elements of the atherosclerotic lesions in humans and its role in destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque were detected. The data suggested a hypothesis on indirect involvement of IL-18 in destruction of the elastic and collagen fibers in an unstable plaque due to this cytokine capacity to induce the production of IFN-γ in T cells and macrophages, this eventually leading to inhibition of collagen and elastin synthesis in smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall and to loosening of the plaque cap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Common and Special Morphology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, North Western Division of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia, pigarevsky@mail.ru.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Pigarevskii
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Maltseva
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Snegova
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Davydova
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001391:Azo Compounds; D002102:Cadaver; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004549:Elastin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D020382:Interleukin-18; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin; C011049:oil red O