Senescence-induced Inflammation: an Important Player and Key Therapeutic Target in Atherosclerosis

Overview

Journal Eur Heart J

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2020 Jan 4

PMID 31898722

Citations 76

Authors

Stevan D Stojanovic

Jan Fiedler

Johann Bauersachs

Thomas Thum

Daniel G Sedding

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Inflammation is a hallmark and potent driver of pathological vascular remodelling in atherosclerosis. However, current anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies have shown mixed results. As an alternative perspective on the conundrum of chronic inflammation emerging evidence points towards a small subset of senescent cells as a critical player and central node driving atherosclerosis. Senescent cells belonging to various cell types are a dominant and chronic source of a large array of pro-inflammatory cytokines and various additional plaque destabilizing factors, being involved with various aspects of atherosclerosis pathogenesis. Antagonizing these key agitators of local chronic inflammation and plaque instability may provide a causative and multi-purpose therapeutic strategy to treat atherosclerosis. Anti-senescence treatment options with translational potential are currently in development. However, several questions and challenges remain to be addressed before these novel treatment approaches may enter the clinical setting.

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