Complement in atherosclerosis: friend or foe?

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and the complement system plays a central role in innate immunity. Increasing evidence exists that the complement system is activated within atherosclerotic plaques. However, the role of complement in atherogenesis is not fully understood. Whereas co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis 2011-03, Vol.9 (3), p.428-440
Main Authors: SPEIDL, W. S., KASTL, S. P., HUBER, K., WOJTA, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anaphylatoxins - immunology
Anaphylatoxins - physiology
Animals
atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis - etiology
Atherosclerosis - genetics
Atherosclerosis - immunology
complement
Complement Activation
Complement Membrane Attack Complex - immunology
Complement Membrane Attack Complex - physiology
Complement System Proteins - genetics
Complement System Proteins - immunology
Complement System Proteins - physiology
coronary artery disease
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
inflammation
Mice
Models, Cardiovascular
Models, Immunological
myocardial infarction
pathogenesis
plaque
Plaque, Atherosclerotic - immunology
Rabbits
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Summary:Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and the complement system plays a central role in innate immunity. Increasing evidence exists that the complement system is activated within atherosclerotic plaques. However, the role of complement in atherogenesis is not fully understood. Whereas complement activation by the classic and lectin pathway may be protective by removing apoptotic cells and cell debris from atherosclerotic plaques, activation of the complement cascade by the alternative pathway and beyond the C3 convertase with formation of anaphylatoxins and the terminal complement complex may be proatherogenic and may play a role in plaque destabilization leading to its rupture and the onset of acute cardiovascular events. In this review article we present evidence for complement activation within atherosclerotic plaques and we discuss recent data derived from experimental animal models that suggest a dual role of complement in the development of the disease. In addition, we summarize the role of complement components as biomarkers for cardiovascular disease.
ISSN:1538-7933
1538-7836
1538-7836
DOI:10.1111/j.1538-7836.2010.04172.x