Research progress of IL-18 in atherosclerotic diseases

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the cardiovascular system and one of the main causes of ischemic heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. More and more evidences indicate that inflammatory response is an important factor of plaque instability and plaque rupture, which runs through the whole process of the occurrence, development and rupture of unstable plaques. Interleukin-18 is a new type of proinflammatory cytokine, which can promote inflammatory response and is an important factor involved in the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis. This paper reviews the role of interleukin-18 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its current research status in AS-related diseases to provide new detection indicators and therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.