IL-20 and atherosclerosis: another brick in the wall.

摘要

Achronic inflammatory process, initiated by lipopro-tein extravasation and oxidation in the intimal space, builds up atherosclerotic plaques in the arterial wall. Cytokines are fundamental actors of inflammation as they exert autocrine and paracrine effects and allow intercellular communication between effector and target cells. More than fifty cytokines have been identified by now. Shortly after their discovery, novel and unexpected biological actions of cytokines are brought to light by cross-disciplinary studies.