Role of Inflammation in the Development of Atherosclerosis Essay

Role of Inflammation in the Development of Atherosclerosis - Essay Example As the discussion highlights atherosclerosis is a condition in which the wall of the artery thickens due to accumulation of fatty substances like cholesterol and triglycerides. The condition affects arterial blood vessels secondary to chronic inflammation of the innermost wall of the arteries and is mainly caused due to accumulation of macrophages. Accumulation of macrophages is promoted by low density lipoproteins. Stiffening of arteries occurs due to formation of multiple plaques within the arteries. There are basically 3 groups of atherosclerotic lesions and they are progressive atherosclerotic lesions, nonatherosclerotic intimal lesions and healed atherosclerotic plaques. Certain preexisting intimal lesions have intimal thickening and fatty streaks and adult lesions can arise from these Intimal thickening mainly involves the smooth muscles cells which lie in a proteoglycan-rich matrix. In early lesions, moderate cell replication can occur, but in adult lesions, they are mainly cl onal. Fatty streaks are basically intimal xanthomata in which there is accumulation of fat-laden macrophages. These lesions have lesser number of smooth muscle cells and lesser number of T-lymphocytes. These are nonatherosclerotic lesions. In progressive atherosclerosis lesions, there can be stable or non stable plaques. The plaques have intimal thickening with deposition of lipid. But there is no evidence of necrosis. Smooth muscle cells and proteoglycans overly the area of plaques along with T-lymphocytes and macrophages. Healed atherosclerotic plaques are those which have had thrombotic lesions, but have recovered.