title: Cytokines and Immune Responses in Murine Atherosclerosis.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the vessel wall characterized by activation of the innate immune system, with macrophages as the main players, as well as the adaptive immune system, characterized by a Th1-dominant immune response. Cytokines play a major role in the initiation and regulation of inflammation. In recent years, many studies have investigated the role of these molecules in experimental models of atherosclerosis. While some cytokines such as TNF or IFNγ clearly had atherogenic effects, others such as IL-10 were found to be atheroprotective. However, studies investigating the different cytokines in experimental atherosclerosis revealed that the cytokine system is complex with both disease stage-dependent and site-specific effects. In this review, we strive to provide an overview of the main cytokines involved in atherosclerosis and to shed light on their individual role during atherogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pascal J H
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kusters
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, L01-146.1, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E.Lutgens@amc.uva.nl.|Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany. E.Lutgens@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lutgens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001158:Arteries / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cytokines; Experimental atherosclerosis