Journal of Experimental Pharmacology (Feb 2021)
Experimental Agents for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis: New Directions
Abstract
Errika Voutyritsa,1 Georgios Kyriakos,2 Alexandros Patsouras,3 Christos Damaskos,1,4 Anna Garmpi,5 Evangelos Diamantis,6 Nikolaos Garmpis,1,7 Spyridon Savvanis8 1N.S. Christeas Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 2Sección de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital General Universitario Santa Lucia, Cartagena, Spain; 3Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tzanio General Hospital, Piraeus, Greece; 4Renal Transplantation Unit, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece; 5First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 6Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Center, G. Gennimatas General Hospital, Athens, Greece; 7Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 8Internal Medicine Department, Elpis General Hospital, Athens, GreeceCorrespondence: Evangelos Diamantis Tel +302132032000Fax +30210 770 5980Email [email protected]: Cardiovascular and related metabolic disorders constitute a worldwide health challenge. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition based on both dyslipidemia and inflammation. Therefore, even when dyslipidemia is controlled, the risk of atherosclerosis remains. Among the most efficient inflammatory mediators used as therapeutic tools in cardiovascular disease are the interleukins, which are pro-inflammatory mediators like cytokines. Moreover, a protein kinase inhibitors, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, and an inhibitor of a leukocyte adhesion molecule, P-Selectin, have also presented therapeutic potential for this disorder. Colchicine, being an inexpensive therapeutic option, has been proved to be suitable for the prevention of atherosclerosis. In this review, we summarize all the studies, from 2010 to 2020, in which treatment approaches based on the agents mentioned above are evaluated in the management of atherosclerosis.Keywords: cytokines, interleukins, losmapimod, colchicine, p-selectin, inclacumab