Atherosclerosis and inflammation – from pathogenesis to treatment: current state of affairs (Part I)

Atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases are a significant public health concern and a rapidly evolving area of research in both fundamental and clinical medicine. Despite the extensive history of studying, many aspects of atherosclerosis etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. Traditionally, the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has been viewed in terms of the localized accumulation of specific lipoprotein fractions in the arterial wall. However, both innate and adaptive immunity play active roles in atherogenesis. Cells and mediators of the immune system engage in intricate interactions with cellular and extracellular components in all layers of the vascular wall. For this reason, scientific community have reached a consensus on the crucial role of inflammation in the onset, progression, and destabilization of an atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, atherogenesis can be considered not only as a metabolic disorder, but also as an immunoinflammatory process. The aim of this lecture was to summarize contemporary data regarding the role of inflammation at various stages of the atherosclerotic continuum.