Inflammation Driven by Fat Cells as a Contribution to Atherosclerosis

The useful part

Atherosclerosis is the largest cause of human mortality, producing stroke and heart attack when fatty plaques obstructing arteries rupture. There is accordingly a great deal of research aimed at influencing the course of the condition. Reversal of plaque growth to clear arteries and remove potentially unstable plaques remains a challenge, and few approaches have been shown to achieve this goal with any reliability even in animal studies.

How it works

• Conversely, many different approaches have been shown to slow the development of atherosclerosis in high fat diet mouse models of the condition.
• The example here is a demonstration of the degree to which maladaptive fat tissue metabolism contributes to the environment of inflammation and cell stress that accelerates the growth of atherosclerotic plaque.