Inflammation and hypoxia in atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and heart failure

Abstract

Inflammation is a process that occurs after tissue damage or counteract infection. It is a complex reaction involving various cells, proteins (chemokines, acute-phase proteins) and other factors. The precise understanding of the mechanisms affecting the distribution of inflammatory cells and their modulators in areas of inflammation may have a crucial role in the development of strategies blocking inflammatory processes. Hypoxia leads to deprivation of oxygen and when it develops, various mechanisms come into action to alleviate any consequences that it might cause. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) is one of the most important factors involved in the response to hypoxia. Recent studies provide a better understanding of both, inflammation and hypoxia, in the development of atherosclerosis and various diseases in the spectrum of cardiology.