Infection and Atherosclerosis Development

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Infectious Disease Immunology

Background:

• Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease characterized by lipid accumulation.
• While lipid deposition is a known factor, infectious agents are increasingly implicated in its pathogenesis.
• Infections may directly affect vascular cells or indirectly induce inflammatory responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review infectious agents linked to atherosclerosis.
• To focus on agents with demonstrated biological plausibility in animal models.
• To discuss challenges in establishing a causal role in human disease.

Main Methods:

• Review of seroepidemiological studies.
• Identification of infectious agents in human atherosclerotic tissue.
• Analysis of experimental studies in animal models of atherosclerosis.

Main Results:

• Multiple bacterial and viral pathogens have been associated with atherosclerosis.
• Animal models show infection can accelerate atherosclerotic processes.
• Biological plausibility for certain agents is supported by experimental data.

Conclusions:

• Infectious agents are potential contributors to atherosclerosis through direct or indirect mechanisms.
• Evidence from animal models supports a role for specific pathogens.
• Further research is needed to overcome challenges in proving infection's role in human atherosclerosis.