Role of interleukin 1 in the development of atherosclerosis

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Atherosclerosis is now considered as chronic inflammatory vascular disease connected to «pathological» activation of innate and adaptive immunity, characterized by lipid deposition, leukocyte infiltration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Subclinical (low grade) inflammation plays fundamental role at all stages of atherosclerotic process progression and determines cardiovascular catastrophes development and mortality. Proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL) 1, IL6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), IL17, IL18, IL27, IL33, IL37 tightly interacting within cytokine network occupy an important place among numerous mediators participating in immunopathogenesis of atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. IL1β playing an important role in the development of many acute and chronic immunoinflammatory diseases attracts particular attention. IL1β significance in the development of atherosclerosis is determined by many mechanisms including procoagulant activity, enhancement of monocytes and leucocytes adhesion to vascular endothelium, vascular smooth muscle cells growth and others. Fundamental role of inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis is well proved in investigations of anti-atherosclerotic effect of canakinumab. Randomized placebo-controlled trial CANTOS (Canakinumab ANti-inflammatory Thrombosis Otcomes Study) assessing efficacy of canakinumab as new tool for secondary prophylaxis cardiovascular complications in general population of patients with severe atherosclerotic vascular damage. CANTOS results in combination with accumulated in rheumatology data on cardiovascular effects of anti-inflammatory drugs are of great importance for personification of approach to secondary prophylaxis of caused by atherosclerosis cardiovascular complications. They also contribute to the development of inflammatory theory of atherosclerosis pathogenesis in the whole.