CD40 and vascular inflammation.

Atherosclerosis is currently considered a chronic inflammatory disease combined with a disorder of lipid metabolism and deposition. Risk factors for coronary disease, as well as circulating cytokines, are involved in endothelial activation, leading to an adhesive and dysfunctional endothelium. The CD40 receptor (CD40) and its counterpart, the CD40 ligand (CD40L/CD154), were originally found to regulate T cell-dependent B cell differentiation. Meanwhile, several studies clearly demonstrate that the CD40/CD40L system plays an important role not only in cellular immunity and inflammation, but also in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. This is evidenced by the finding that inhibition of CD40/CD40L interaction prevents atherogenesis in animal models. Thus, the regulation of proatherogenic factors including CD40L may provide novel therapeutic options to treat inflammatory disorders such as atherosclerosis.