Journal of Rehabilitation Research Current Updates
Clonal Hematopoiesis and Atherosclerosis: How Age-Related Mutations in Blood Cells Drive Inflammation
Abstract
Naeem Hamza, Rayane Naegels, Timea, Dhina, Chloé and Daniyal Khan
Atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of most cardiovascular events, is no longer viewed solely as lipid accumulation. It is now identified as a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall driven by endothelial dysfunction, lipid accumulation, and chronic inflammation [1,2]. Inflammation is central to atherogenesis, with both innate and adaptive immune responses involved. Monocytes and macrophages drive the process at every stage, from endothelial activation and foam-cell formation to plaque growth and rupture [1]. Traditional risk factors like hypertension, smoking, diabetes and dyslipidemia remain central drivers of atherosclerosis, yet they do not fully explain disease progression, especially in older adults, highlighting the need to explore additional mechanisms such as age-related changes in the immune system [3].