Neuroimmune circuits in the plaque and bone marrow regulate atherosclerosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Neuroimmunology
• Systemic Inflammation

Background:

• Atherosclerosis is a leading global cause of mortality, characterized by arterial wall atheroma but recognized as a systemic disease.
• The immune system is a known causal contributor to all stages of atherosclerosis.
• Emerging evidence highlights the nervous system's significant role in modulating the inflammatory processes central to atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current data and concepts linking the nervous and immune systems in atherosclerosis.
• To focus on the arterial vessel and bone marrow as critical sites of neuroimmune interaction in this disease.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual synthesis of existing research on neuroimmune interactions in atherosclerosis.
• Focus on data pertaining to the arterial vessel and bone marrow.

Main Results:

• The neuroimmune cross-talk in atherosclerosis is bidirectional.
• Immune-regulated afferent signaling is increasingly recognized as a factor in atherosclerosis development and progression.

Conclusions:

• The nervous system acts as a key modulator of inflammation in atherosclerosis.
• Understanding neuroimmune interactions within the arterial wall and bone marrow is crucial for future therapeutic strategies against atherosclerosis.