Exploring the microscopic mechanism of atherosclerosis through the connection between static blood in traditional Chinese medicine and extracellular matrix

In traditional Chinese medicine, static blood refers to the pathological product formed by poor blood circulation or blood stagnation in the body. Static blood is viscous and prone to clotting, which can cause various diseases. Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex extracellular network structure secreted by cells. Under pathological conditions, abnormal changes occur in the components and structure of the ECM, leading to tissue hardening and fibrosis, which in turn hinders the normal functions of cells and contributes to the occurrence and development of various diseases such as atherosclerosis. Some abnormal states of ECM are consistent with the characteristics of static blood, and ECM may serve as a modern material base for static blood. The association between static blood and ECM was explored in terms of their unity in causes, composition, physical properties, distribution, and biological processes. The physiological characteristics and pathological evolution processes in the body of both are similar. Abnormal ECM deposition is the early basis for the formation and retention of atherosclerosis. Dynamic remodeling of the ECM is a key factor in the injury and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. Abnormal ECM cross-linking aggravates the inflammatory microenvironment of atherosclerotic vessels. As abnormal pathological products and pathogenic factors, the retention of static blood and ECM deposition and remodeling are closely associated with the occurrence and development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial ischemia, acute myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. This article explores the relationship between static blood in traditional Chinese medicine and ECM, aiming to provide a new direction for the theoretical research of blood stasis, novel clinical treatment ideas, and potential intervention targets for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.