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Infection and Atherosclerosis Development

Lee Ann Campbell1, Michael E Rosenfeld2

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Archives of Medical Research
|May 26, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Infectious agents, including bacteria and viruses, may play a role in atherosclerosis development by triggering inflammation and vascular cell dysfunction. Proving a direct link in humans remains challenging despite animal model evidence.

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.

Keywords:
Antibiotic trialsAtherosclerosisChlamydia pneumoniaeInfectious agentsPeriodontal pathogens

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