Role of Interleukin-18 in Destabilization of the Atherosclerotic Plaque in Humans

• Published in: Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine Vol. 157; no. 6; pp. 821 - 824
• Main Authors: Pigarevskii, P. V., Maltseva, S. V., Snegova, V. A., Davydova, N. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.10.2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Aorta - pathology; Atherosclerotic plaque; Azo Compounds; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cadaver; Cell Biology; Collagen; Collagen - biosynthesis; Collagen - drug effects; Elastin; Elastin - biosynthesis; Elastin - drug effects; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interleukin-18 - metabolism; Interleukin-18 - pharmacology; Interleukins; Internal Medicine; Laboratory Medicine; Macrophages - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Pathology; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - drug therapy; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - metabolism; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - pathology; T cells; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism
• ISSN: 0007-4888; 1573-8221
• DOI: 10.1007/s10517-014-2675-x

Precise location of IL-18 in cell and tissue elements of the atherosclerotic lesions in humans and its role in destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque were detected. The data suggested a hypothesis on indirect involvement of IL-18 in destruction of the elastic and collagen fibers in an unstable plaque due to this cytokine capacity to induce the production of IFN-γ in T cells and macrophages, this eventually leading to inhibition of collagen and elastin synthesis in smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall and to loosening of the plaque cap.