Cellular structure of atherosclerotic plaques: immunoregulatory mechanisms in the arterial wall

M. Kazakova

A therosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arteries that occurs during a complex interaction between risk factors (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, etc.), components of the vascular wall, as well as immune and inflammatory cells. Various cells from intima, media, adventitia and perivascular adipose tissue not only make up an intact and normal arterial vessel wall, but also participate in the inflammatory reaction in atherosclerosis.
The process of atherosclerosis is initiated by activation of the endothelium, followed by a cascade of events (accumulation of lipids, migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells, transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts). The atherosclerotic plaque causes narrowing of the vessel and leads to cardiovascular complications. The article reviews the results of recent studies that reveal the role of various cells of the arterial vessel wall, as well as cells of innate and adaptive immunity in the development of atherosclerosis.

keywords: atherosclerosis, inflammation, fibroblasts, macrophages, smooth muscle cells.

for references: M. Kazakova. Cellular structure of atherosclerotic plaques: immunoregulatory mechanisms in the arterial wall. Neotlozhnaya kardiologiya i kardiovaskulyarnye riski [Emergency cardiology and cardiovascular risks], 2023, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 1881–1884.

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