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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

A Mouse Model for Pathogen-induced Chronic Inflammation at Local and Systemic Sites
Published on: August 8, 2014
[Infection and atherosclerosis]
1Klinika kardiologie IKEM Praha. petr.syrovatka@seznam.cz
Insights
Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease and leading cause of cardiovascular death, may be linked to infectious agents. Research explores the role of infections in atherosclerosis development and potential interventions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Atherosclerosis is a primary cause of global mortality, predominantly from cardiovascular diseases.
- Traditional risk factors do not explain all atherosclerosis cases, prompting investigation into environmental influences.
- Infectious agents are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to atherosclerosis.
Purpose:
- To provide an overview of the role of infectious agents in atherosclerosis.
- To discuss the interactions between infection and atherogenic processes.
- To explore potential intervention strategies targeting infectious causes of atherosclerosis.
Summary:
- Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory condition, is the leading cause of death worldwide and in developing nations.
- Infectious agents are being investigated for their role in atherosclerosis, particularly when traditional risk factors are absent.
- Studies indicate that infections can promote atherogenic processes and interact with established risk factors.
Impact:
- Highlights the significance of infectious agents in atherosclerosis etiology and pathogenesis.
- Suggests new avenues for understanding and managing cardiovascular diseases.
- Informs the development of novel intervention strategies for atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammation and the cause of most cardiovascular diseases. It is the main cause of death in the Western world today, even though growing incidence of atherosclerosis-related diseases has been recently observed in developing countries, too. In many patients with atherosclerosis, however, traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis are not identifiable. This has renewed the interest, in recent years, in the links between atherosclerosis and environmental exposures, including infectious agents. Infection was identified as as risk factor for atherosclerosis in the first half of the 20th century. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that infection can stimulate atherogenic processes and that there are significant interactions between infection and traditional risk factors. Yet there are questions concerning etiology, pathogenesis and appropriate interventions which remain unanswered. The following article provides an overview of the role of the infectious agents in atherosclerosis and discusses possible intervention strategies.
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