Chronic Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

Inflammation is a vital response and necessary for maintaining homeostasis. Inflammation protects against tissue damage and pathogens-but is also one of the main driving forces of the atherosclerotic plaque progression. How and why the inflammatory response is initiated in the atherosclerotic disease is not fully known, but evidence suggests modified lipids as potential antigens activating the immune response, according to the response-to-retention theory. The inflammatory response is an intricate interplay between the innate and adaptive immune system, tightly regulated by pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Besides its role in the formation of the atherosclerotic plaque many studies also point toward inflammation as a driving force of plaque vulnerability and eventually plaque rupture