Toll样受体4对动脉粥样硬化发生、发展的研究进展

动脉粥样硬化（atherosclerosis，AS）是多种细胞、炎性介质参与形成的慢性炎症性疾病。Toll样受体家族（Toll like receptors，TLRs）中的TLR4是机体重要的诱导分泌多种炎性因子的模式识别受体。现有证据表明，TLR4不仅产生多种炎性因子诱发血管炎症反应，而且促进AS斑块形成和发展，造成斑块不稳定，甚至破裂，对AS的发生、发展具有重要作用。因此，了解TLR4对AS的影响有助于发现新的治疗靶点和对策。主要对TLR4在AS发病机制和易损斑块发展中的作用进行综述。

Advance in Toll like receptor 4 affect the initiation and development of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis （AS） is a multi-factorial chronic inflammatory disease, which is caused by a variety of cells, inflammatory mediators. TLR4, the member of the family of Toll like receptors（TLRs）, is an important receptor of pattern recognition receptors, could induce the secretion of many inflammatory cytokines. The available evidence suggests that TLR4 may play a pivotal role in initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, leading to vascular inflammation and plaque growth. Thus, understanding the correlation between TLR4 and AS could be beneficial to the discovery of new therapeutic targets and strategies. In this review, we discuss the effect of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of AS and vulnerable plaque development.