CD40 Ligand and Its Receptors in Atherothrombosis

Atherothrombosis is the main underlying determinant of cardiovascular diseases, which remain the leading cause of death in developed countries. Multiple lines of evidence now support the concept of atherothrombosis as a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall.1, 2 This process involves a complex interplay between modified lipids and cells of the immune and vascular system, which usually evolves into the formation of atherosclerotic lesions yielding a stable necrotic plaque. If left untreated, plaque rupture and thrombosis may ensue, leading to important clinical manifestations, such as acute coronary syndromes and sudden death.3