Περίληψη:
The notion of atherosclerosis as a chronic inflammatory disease has
intensified research on the role of cytokines and the way these
molecules act and interact to initiate and sustain inflammation in the
microenvironment of an atherosclerotic plaque. Cytokines are expressed
by all types of cells involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis,
act on a variety of targets exerting multiple effects, and are largely
responsible for the crosstalk among endothelial, smooth muscle cells,
leucocytes, and other vascular residing cells. It is now understood that
widely used drugs such as statins, aspirin, methotrexate, and colchicine
act in an immunomodulatory way that may beneficially affect
atherogenesis and/ or cardiovascular disease progression. Moreover,
advancement in pharmaceutical design has enabled the production of
highly specific antibodies against key molecules involved in the
perpetuation of the inflammatory cascade, raising hope for advances in
the treatment of atherosclerosis. This review describes the actions and
effects of these agents, their potential clinical significance, and
future prospects.
Συγγραφείς:
Tousoulis, Dimitris
Oikonomou, Evangelos
Economou, Evangelos K.
and Crea, Filippo
Kaski, Juan Carlos
