[Relationship between macrophage pyroptosis and atherosclerosis based on theory of "spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum"]

The key pathogenesis of atherosclerosis(AS) in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) lies in the combination of phlegm and stasis due to spleen deficiency. In Western medicine, it is believed that pyroptosis can lead to atherosclerosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress has been shown to promote pyroptosis. According to the theories of " spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum",guided by spleen governing transportation and transformation, and endoplasmic reticulum processing proteins, it is believed that the syndrome of phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency has similarities with the mechanism of macrophage pyroptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in accelerating the progression of AS. This study explored the correlation between phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency and pyroptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress, and then analyzed the modern medical mechanisms of phlegm combined with stasis due to spleen deficiency in mediating atherosclerosis. The discussion enriches the theory of spleen in correlation with endoplasmic reticulum, provides research ideas on the prevention and treatment of AS by invigorating spleen,eliminating phlegm, and resolving stasis, and lays a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of spleen-invigorating TCM in the treatment of AS.