The CD40/CD40 Ligand System: Linking Inflammation With Atherothrombosis

The role of CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L) in atherothrombosis is now widely accepted. However, the exact mechanisms linking the CD40/CD40L system and the soluble form of CD40 ligand (sCD40L) with atherothrombosis are currently a topic of intensive research. CD40L and sCD40L belong to the tumor necrosis f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2009-08, Vol.54 (8), p.669-677
Main Authors: ANTONIADES, Charalambos, BAKOGIANNIS, Constantinos, TOUSOULIS, Dimitris, ANTONOPOULOS, Alexios S, STEFANADIS, Christodoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Coronary Syndrome - genetics
Acute Coronary Syndrome - immunology
Acute Coronary Syndrome - physiopathology
Animals
Atherosclerosis - immunology
Atherosclerosis - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology
Cardiology. Vascular system
CD40 Antigens - physiology
CD40 Ligand - genetics
CD40 Ligand - physiology
Coronary Artery Disease - immunology
Coronary Artery Disease - physiopathology
Cytokines
Drug therapy
Heart attacks
Humans
Kinases
Medical sciences
Platelet Activation - physiology
Polymorphism, Genetic
Prognosis
Rodents
Solubility
Thrombosis - immunology
Thrombosis - physiopathology
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Summary:The role of CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L) in atherothrombosis is now widely accepted. However, the exact mechanisms linking the CD40/CD40L system and the soluble form of CD40 ligand (sCD40L) with atherothrombosis are currently a topic of intensive research. CD40L and sCD40L belong to the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, and they are molecules with a dual prothrombotic and proinflammatory role. They are expressed in a variety of tissues such as the immune system (in both B and T cells), the vascular wall, and activated platelets. Soluble CD40L has multiple autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine actions, and it may trigger key mechanisms participating in atherothrombosis. CD40/CD40L may participate in the development of coronary atherosclerosis and the triggering of acute coronary syndromes, while sCD40L seems to have a prognostic role not only in subjects with advanced atherosclerosis but also in the general population. Although conventional cardiovascular medication such as antiplatelet therapy, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and many others have been shown to reduce both sCD40L and cardiovascular risk, it is still unclear whether specific treatments targeting the CD40/CD40L system will prove to be beneficial against atherothrombosis in the near future.
ISSN:0735-1097
1558-3597
DOI:10.1016/j.jacc.2009.03.076