Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, ARCADIA 0007, South Africa.
Curr Med Chem. 2014;21(19):2121-9. doi: 10.2174/0929867321666131227162950.
Atherosclerosis is a widespread disease of the arterial system that is generated by injury to the vasculature due to hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and inflammatory diseases. In the current review, we discuss the role of different risk factors, including obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in atherosclerosis, which may ultimately lead to either cardiovascular or cerebral complication. Inflammation plays a pivotal role in conjunction with obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in the etiology of atherosclerosis. We discuss the role of inflammation with regards to reactive oxygen species (ROS) linked to the specific risk factors. The role of nitric oxide (NO) in conjunction with ROS is also important. Correlations of inflammatory cytokines and their functions in the mentioned risk factors are also discussed. The risk factors may ultimately lead to ischemic events, including transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), thrombotic stroke and myocardial infarction. Importantly, it seems as if there is a combination of pathophysiological triggers that may eventually result in atherosclerosis. Therefore, atherosclerosis is not the result of only one risk factor, but a combination of various physiological processes such as homeostasis and the inflammatory response. Ultimately, each patient's risk profile is unique and determines their immediate risk for acute thrombotic events or lethal ischemia.
动脉粥样硬化是一种广泛存在的动脉系统疾病，是由于高胆固醇血症、高血压和炎症性疾病导致血管损伤而产生的。在本次综述中，我们讨论了不同的危险因素，包括肥胖、高血压和高胆固醇血症在动脉粥样硬化中的作用，这些因素最终可能导致心血管或大脑并发症。炎症与肥胖、高血压和高胆固醇血症一起在动脉粥样硬化的发病机制中起着关键作用。我们讨论了炎症与与特定危险因素相关的活性氧（ROS）之间的关系。一氧化氮（NO）与 ROS 的相互作用也很重要。还讨论了炎症细胞因子及其在所述危险因素中的功能的相关性。这些危险因素最终可能导致缺血事件，包括短暂性脑缺血发作（TIA）、血栓性中风和心肌梗死。重要的是，似乎存在一系列病理生理触发因素，最终可能导致动脉粥样硬化。因此，动脉粥样硬化不是单一危险因素的结果，而是各种生理过程（如内稳态和炎症反应）的综合作用。最终，每个患者的风险状况都是独特的，并决定了他们立即发生急性血栓事件或致命性缺血的风险。
