Targeting systemic inflammation in metabolic disorders. A therapeutic candidate for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases?

Fecha de publicación: 01/02/2024 Fecha Ahead of Print: 11/01/2024

Grupos y Plataformas de I+D+i

Grupo de Investigación en Inflamación

Leading Researcher

Maria Jesus Sanz Ferrando
Grupo de Investigación en Receptores Nucleares en Patología Cardiometabólicas

Established Researcher

Laura Piqueras Ruiz
Grupo de Investigación sobre Riesgo Cardiometabólico y Diabetes

Leading Researcher

Sergio Martinez Hervas

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. While many factors can contribute to CVD, atherosclerosis is the cardinal underlying pathology, and its development is associated with several metabolic risk factors including dyslipidemia and obesity. Recent studies have definitively demonstrated a link between low-grade systemic inflammation and two relevant metabolic abnormalities: hypercholesterolemia and obesity. Interestingly, both metabolic disorders are also associated with endothelial dysfunction/activation, a proinflammatory and prothrombotic phenotype of the endothelium that involves leukocyte infiltration into the arterial wall, one of the earliest stages of atherogenesis. This article reviews the current literature on the intricate relationship between hypercholesterolemia and obesity and the associated systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, and discusses the effectiveness of present, emerging and in-development pharmacological therapies used to treat these metabolic disorders with a focus on their effects on the associated systemic inflammatory state and cardiovascular risk.