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Atherosclerosis: the interplay between lipids and immune cells
Frank Schaftenaar1, Vanessa Frodermann, Johan Kuiper
1aDivision of Biopharmaceutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden bDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands cInstitute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Insights
This review explores the complex interplay between lipids and immune cells in atherosclerosis. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing novel therapies targeting cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular research
- Immunology
- Lipid metabolism
Background:
- Atherosclerosis, a primary cause of cardiovascular disease, involves more than passive lipid buildup.
- Immune cells and inflammation play a critical role alongside hyperlipidemia, particularly modified LDL levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the intricate relationship between lipids and the immune system in atherosclerosis.
- To elucidate how lipids influence immune cell function and how immune cells impact lipid metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent findings on lipid-immune cell interactions in atherosclerosis.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on the effects of lipids on immune cells and vice versa.
Main Results:
- Hyperlipidemia alters immune cell behavior and function.
- Immune cells can actively modify lipid metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Novel insights into lipid-immune system interactions offer potential for new atherosclerosis therapies.
- Further research is needed to fully understand and leverage these interactions for clinical benefit.
Purpose Of Review:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis. In the past, atherosclerosis was considered to be the result of passive lipid accumulation in the vessel wall. However, today's picture of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is much more complex, with a key role for immune cells and inflammation in conjunction with hyperlipidemia, especially elevated (modified) LDL levels. Knowledge on immune cells and immune responses in atherosclerosis has progressed tremendously over the past decades, and the same is true for the role of lipid metabolism and the different lipid components. However, it is largely unknown how lipids and the immune system interact. In this review, we will describe the effect of lipids on immune cell development and function, and the effects of immune cells on lipid metabolism.
Recent Findings:
Recently, novel data have emerged that show that immune cells are affected, and behave differently in a hyperlipidemic environment. Moreover, immune cells have reported to be able to affect lipid metabolism.
Summary:
In this review, we will summarize the latest findings on the interactions between lipids and the immune system, and we will discuss the potential consequences of these novel insights for future therapies for atherosclerosis.
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