Cardio Biology & Clinical Sciences

Atherosclerosis is one of the primary causes of heart disease and stroke. In industrialized countries, it is the underlying cause of about 50% of all deaths. Atherosclerosis can be considered a form of chronic inflammation resulting from interaction between modified lipoproteins, monotype-derived macrophages, T cells and the cellular elements of the arterial wall. This inflammatory process can ultimately lead to the development of complex lesions or plaques that protrude into the arterial lumen. It is well established that the Notch signalling pathway regulates the functions of each cell type involved in the formation and in the evolution of the atherosclerotic plaques. In this review we will discuss the role of the Notch signalling in the modulation of macrophages, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells biological functions and how dysregulation of this pathway could potentially affect the onset and progression of atherosclerosis.