Mechanisms of inflammation

This chapter provides a brief summary of the immune pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, highlighting shared features with inflammatory pathways in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) described in detail in Chapter 25.4. RA constitutes a prototype autoimmune disease primarily affecting the joints but also the heart and vessels associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Recent years have produced a wealth of novel insights into the diversity of immune cell types which either propagate or dampen inflammation in atherogenesis. Expansion of this inherent anti-inflammatory component carried by regulatory T cells may constitute a new therapeutic target to harness the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Among the various inflammatory mediators involved in RA pathology, cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α‎ and interleukin-6) have gained major interest as therapeutic targets with approved therapies available. In light of the many common features in the pathogenesis of RA and atherosclerosis, these biologics are currently being evaluated in cardiovascular patients. The recently published CANTOS trial showed that IL-1 inhibition reduced adverse cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease demonstrating that inflammation is a genuine therapeutic target. The near future will provide more information whether inflammation is a bona fide cardiovascular risk factor based on completion of several clinical trials using anti-inflammatory approaches in patients with both cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis.