STRESS AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS: MAY HSP60 BE THE MOLECULAR LINK?

In last decades, incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increased. Among them, atherosclerosis is one of the most commons. It is a disorder of inflammation and innate immunity following lipid accumulation. From a biologic perspective, the process of adhesion and transmigration of immune cells (monocytes and macrophages) across the endothelium IS d crucial step for atherogenesis and mature plaque rupture. Moreover, there is relationship between inflammation, infection, autoimmunity and atherosclerosis. Inflammation has received increasing attention in recent years as a cause of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by enhanced atherosclerosis. Humoral immune responses to mycobacterial Hsp65, as well as to human Hsp60 and oxLDL, have been established in a number of human autoimmune diseases and are considered to be significantly associated also with atherosclerosis.