Vascular inflammation in cardiovascular disease: Is Immune system protective or bystander.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading cause of death worldwide. Chronic atherosclerosis induced vascular inflammation and perturbation of lipid metabolism is believed to be a major cause of CVD. Interplay of innate and adaptive Immune system has been interwined with various risk factors associated with the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis in CVD. A large body of evidences indicate a correlation between immunity and atherosclerosis. Retention of plasma lipoproteins in arterial subendothelial wall trigger the T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and monocytederived macrophages to form atherosclerotic plaques. In the present review, we will discuss pathogenesis of CVD in relation to atherosclerosis with particular focus on pro-atherogenic role of immune cells. Recent findings have also suggested anti-atherogenic roles of different B cell subsets. Therapeutic approaches to target the atherosclerosis risk factors have reduced the mortality but a need exists for the novel therapies to treat arterial vascular inflammation. These insights into the immune pathogenesis of atherosclerosis can lead to new targeted therapeutics to abate cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.