1: Curr Opin Mol Ther. 2007 Apr;9(2):176-82.Links
Active and passive immunization for atherosclerosis.Chyu KY, Nilsson J, Shah PK.
http://www.ncbi.nlm....Pubmed_RVDocSumCedars-Sinai Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Division of Cardiology and Atherosclerosis Research Center, Suite 5347, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
This review summarizes experimental findings that highlight the role of immune mechanisms in atherosclerosis and the potential atheroprotective effects of active or passive immunization strategies. Inmmunomodulation therapy appears to be feasible and effective, suggesting that a vaccine for atherosclerosis can be developed for clinical testing. Given the increasing number of patients with atherosclerotic disease on current therapy, a new therapy is needed and an immunization strategy could provide such a possibility. Several questions regarding this approach remain unanswered, however, such as choice of optimal antigens, choice of most effective adjuvants, the optimal route of administration, durability of effects and safety, but cautious optimism remains that a vaccine-based approach has the potential to become a part of the armamentarium for atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Vaccines for cholesterol management.Rittershaus CW.
AVANT Immunotherapeutics Inc., 119 Fourth Ave., Needham, Massachusetts 02494, USA. crittershaus@avantimmune.com
Over the last 50 years, several attempts have been made to harness the power and economy of vaccines in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Vaccines directed to lipoproteins, cholesterol itself, and molecules involved in cholesterol metabolism have all demonstrated success in modifying progression of disease in animal models of atherosclerosis.
One vaccine that elicits antibodies to cholesteryl ester transfer protein has also progressed into the realm of human clinical testing . This review summarizes the published scientific work describing the various approaches that have been tried, their strengths and weaknesses, and where this field may go in the future.
Edited by treonsverdery, 24 January 2008 - 04:41 AM.