Interleukin-18 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the cardiovascular system, which is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Currently, there is growing evidence pointing to the importance of innate and adaptive immunity in the development of atherosclerosis. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is one of the pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in the process of atherogenesis, destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques, and their rupture. This review examines the results of preclinical and clinical studies on the role and mechanism of action of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis