Nervous System's Role in Growth and Regression of Atherosclerotic Plaques

During the past 30 years, the interacting roles of lipid metabolism and the immune system (inflammation) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis have become clear. A new discovery strongly suggests that the nervous system also plays an important role. An international team has discovered an “artery-brain circuit,” consisting of afferent and efferent fibers into the adventitia of the artery wall, adjacent to plaques; these fibers interact with immune cells within plaques to influence the growth or regression of plaques in mice and humans.

These “neuroimmune cardiovascular interfaces” (NICIs) include sensory afferent fibers that travel up to the amygdala, triggering sympathetic efferent fibers. The size of atheromas correlate with the density o…