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The CD40-CD40 ligand system: a potential therapeutic target in atherosclerosis
R P Phipps1, L Koumas, E Leung
1University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cancer Center, Rochester NY 14642, USA. Richard_Phipps@urmc.rochester.edu
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease in the westernized world. This review highlights emerging evidence linking atherosclerosis to the CD40-CD40 ligand (CD154) pathway. Recently, atherosclerosis has been associated with chronic inflammation, linking it to the immune system. This novel viewpoint may serve as an additional target for therapeutic intervention. CD40 and CD154 are highly expressed in atherosclerotic human plaques. Recent data from preclinical animal models of atherosclerosis show that disruption of the CD40-CD154 pathway can prevent atherosclerotic progression and may reverse established lesions. Blockade of the CD40-CD154 pathway by biologicals or small molecules may prove valuable in the treatment of atherosclerosis.