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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
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Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
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Cell death in atherosclerosis
Dan Ni1,2, Cai Lei1, Minqi Liu2,3
1Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|April 28, 2024
Summary
Atherosclerosis involves arterial lipid buildup and inflammation. Cell death pathways, including apoptosis and autophagy, significantly impact this disease, offering new therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cellular Mechanisms
- Pathology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a complex arterial disease driven by lipid accumulation and inflammation.
- Cell death is a critical biological process impacting tissue homeostasis and disease development.
- Programmed cell death, specifically apoptosis and autophagy, are implicated in atherosclerosis onset and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms of various cell death modalities.
- To discuss the role of these cell death pathways in key vascular cells during atherosclerosis.
- To provide a foundation for developing novel atherosclerosis prevention and treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of molecular mechanisms of cell death.
- Analysis of the impact of apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and necrosis on vascular cells.
- Synthesis of current understanding of cell death in atherosclerosis.
Main Results:
- Multiple cell death pathways (apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, ferroptosis, necrosis) are involved in atherosclerosis.
- These pathways affect endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and macrophages within the arterial wall.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for targeting cellular processes in atherosclerosis.
Conclusions:
- Cell death pathways are integral to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
- Targeting specific cell death mechanisms in vascular cells presents a promising therapeutic avenue.
- Further research into these molecular pathways can lead to innovative treatments for atherosclerosis.
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