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Atherosclerosis: Pathogenesis and Key Cellular Processes, Current and Emerging Therapies, Key Challenges, and Future Research Directions

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Atherosclerosis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2419))

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is the principal cause of cardiovascular disease that continues to be a substantial drain on healthcare systems, being responsible for about 31% of all global deaths. Atherogenesis is influenced by a range of factors, including oxidative stress, inflammation, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, and is ultimately driven by the accumulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol within the arterial wall of medium and large arteries. Lipoprotein accumulation stimulates the infiltration of immune cells (such as monocytes/macrophages and T-lymphocytes), some of which take up the lipoprotein, leading to the formation of lipid-laden foam cells. Foam cell death results in increased accumulation of dead cells, cellular debris and extracellular cholesterol, forming a lipid-rich necrotic core. Vascular smooth muscle cells from the arterial media also migrate into the intima layer and proliferate, taking up the available lipids to become foam cells and producing extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and elastin. Plaque progression is characterized by the formation of a fibrous cap composed of extracellular matrix proteins and smooth muscle cells, which acts to stabilize the atherosclerotic plaque. Degradation, thinning, and subsequent rupture of the fibrous cap leads to lumen-occlusive atherothrombosis, most commonly resulting in heart attack or stroke. This chapter describes the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, current and emerging therapies, key challenges, and future directions of research.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the British Heart Foundation for financial support (grants PG/16/25/32097 and FS/17/75/33257).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Yee-Hung Chan & Dipak P. Ramji

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  1. Yee-Hung Chan
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  2. Dipak P. Ramji
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Correspondence to Yee-Hung Chan .

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  1. School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Dipak Ramji

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Chan, YH., Ramji, D.P. (2022). Atherosclerosis: Pathogenesis and Key Cellular Processes, Current and Emerging Therapies, Key Challenges, and Future Research Directions. In: Ramji, D. (eds) Atherosclerosis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2419. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1924-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1924-7_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-1923-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-1924-7

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