THE ATHEROSCLEROSIS-INFLAMMATION RELATIONSHIP – A PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACH

DENISA-MĂDĂLINA ZĂLAR 1, CRISTINA POP 1*, ELENA BUZDUGAN 2, DOINA TODEA 3, CRISTINA IONELA MOGOȘAN 1

1Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2Department of Cardiology, Vth Medical Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3Department of Pneumology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

*corresponding author: pop.cristina@umfcluj.ro

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Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is the predominant pathological substrate of cardiovascular diseases and through its major complications (ischemic heart disease and stroke) represents the main cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed countries. It is a chronic inflammatory disease derived from the aggregation of lipids and different types of immune cells along with macrophages, B and T cells in the arterial wall. Recent studies revealed that during atherogenesis, the interaction between lipids and immune cells represents the driving force in the chronic inflammation of the arterial wall. The present paper compiles the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease as it describes the involvement of the immune system, analysing the important roles of endothelial dysfunction, macrophages, LDL oxidation and smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation.

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