Inflammation in Ischemic Heart Disease

Advances in understanding the pathobiology of atherosclerosis have implicated inflammation as a central contributor to its initiation and progression. Several risk factors were known to promote atherosclerosis, and various biomarkers were shown to identify patients at risk for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). One of the major subset of mediator contributing in the interaction between inflammatory cells and endothelial and smooth muscle cells and the subsequent perpetuation of the inflammatory reaction are cytokines. C-reactive protein (CRP) is the best studied of the inflammatory biomarkers in CAD and increasing evidence suggests the localization of CRP in the atherosclerotic plaque and its role in the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis. Higher levels of Pentraxine-3 were found in patients with cardiovascular disease and its levels seem to be more closely related than CRP. Novel interesting biomarkers that was recently extensively studied is soluble RAGE: its serum levels correlate positively with occurrence and severity of CAD, underlining their central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In addition, Lectinlike oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 was demonstrated to favoring the formation of atheroma. Finally, the most recent evidences demonstrated that miRNAs can be detected in serum and in plasma in stable form and may be useful as biomarkers for disease. However, the influence of endothelial activation and atherosclerotic disease, as well as the influence of current vasculoprotective therapy, on levels of circulating miRNAs is still unknown. The aim of the present review was to systematically report current evidence on the possible new promising biomarkers recently found as associated with coronary artery disease.