Modulating immune responses and inflammation.

New disease-modifying therapeutic options for immune diseases in general and immune-related cardiovascular diseases are urgently needed. Various innovative therapies are currently developed ranging from small molecules and natural compounds to biopharmaceuticals. This article summarizes the overview of possible points of intervention for an ongoing immune response and lists examples of currently developed therapeutic exploitations of these targets. Research and development for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in general will most likely be fruitful also for therapy of immune-related cardiovascular diseases such as myocarditis and atherosclerosis and should be closely followed by research groups focused on cardiovascular immunology. Thieme Medical Publishers.