Authors: Miyazaki, Tetsuro; Aikawa, Elena; Aikawa, Masanori

Source: Immunology Endocrine & Metabolic Agents - Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology Endocrine & Metabolic Agents), Volume 8, Number 2, June 2008 , pp. 105-115(11)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Inflammation plays a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis as well as the acute onset of thrombotic complications such as myocardial infarction, a leading cause of death. Accumulation of macrophages expressing proteolytic and thrombogenic molecules may promote plaque disruption and thrombus formation. Clinical evidence suggests that hypercholesterolemia is a major coronary risk factor, further supported by pre-clinical observations that hypercholesterolemia induces oxidative stress in the arterial wall, promoting endothelial cell activation and leukocyte invasion. Recent advances in clinical and preclinical vascular medicine have established that lipid-lowering therapy prevents acute coronary complications by limiting inflammation in atheromata. Dyslipidemia and macrophage activation also promote other forms of cardiovascular problems such as metabolic syndrome and calcification. Further understanding of the mechanism for vascular inflammation will provide new insight into atherogenesis as well as preventive cardiovascular medicine. New approaches, including molecular imaging, may identify subclinical inflamed cardiovascular lesions and monitor effects of therapies such as lipid lowering. (154 words)

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; inflammation; macrophages; hypercholesterolemia; calcification; oxidative stress; metabolic syndrome; molecular imaging

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152208784587971

Publication date: 2008-06-01

More about this publication?

• Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry aims to cover all the latest and outstanding developments in the medicinal chemistry and rational drug design for the discovery of new Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents. Each issue contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of current topics in Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic medicinal chemistry.
  
  Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments in Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic drug discovery.

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Chemistry ,  Allergy & Immunology ,  Pharmacology
• By this author: Miyazaki, Tetsuro ;  Aikawa, Elena ;  Aikawa, Masanori

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers