IL1A and atherosclerosis: Indeed, simple organisms with combined coagulation and immunesystems are still extant today, underscoring the importance of coordinating these processes.Although modern mammals have evolved increasingly complex immune and coagulation systems,essential links between them still exist, including the activation of IL-1α bythrombin.4 Atherosclerosis isdriven by chronic aberrant immune activation, with the major clinical outcome driven byacute occlusive thrombosis.