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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

A Novel Three-dimensional Flow Chamber Device to Study Chemokine-directed Extravasation of Cells Circulating under Physiological Flow Conditions
Published on: July 15, 2013
Chemokines in vascular pathology (review)
Stavros Apostolakis1, Emmanouil G Papadakis, Elias Krambovitis
1Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece.
Insights
Atherosclerosis involves inflammation, with chemokines regulating immune cell interactions in arteries. Targeting chemokine pathways offers potential for diagnosing, predicting, and treating this cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis complications are leading causes of death in Western countries.
- Atherosclerotic lesion formation is an inflammatory process.
- Chemokines regulate inflammatory cell interactions within arterial walls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review chemokine sub-families' roles in atherosclerosis.
- To explore diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications of chemokine knowledge.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of chemokine structure and function in atherosclerosis.
- Analysis of chemokine pathways in inflammatory processes.
- Discussion of translational applications in clinical practice.
Main Results:
- Chemokine-mediated mechanisms are key regulators of inflammation in atherosclerosis.
- Specific chemokine sub-families exhibit distinct roles in disease progression.
- Understanding these roles opens avenues for targeted interventions.
Conclusions:
- Chemokine pathways are crucial in atherosclerosis pathogenesis.
- Chemokine ligands and receptors are promising therapeutic targets.
- Further research can translate chemokine insights into clinical benefits for atherosclerosis management.
Abstract:
Clinical complications of atherosclerosis are major causes of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. Recent evidence suggests that formation of atherosclerotic lesions is an inflammatory process involving multiple molecular pathways. Chemokine-mediated mechanisms are potent regulators of such processes by orchestrating the interactions of inflammatory cellular components of the peripheral blood with cellular components of the arterial wall. The increasing evidence supporting the role of chemokine-pathways in atherosclerosis renders chemokine ligands and their receptors potential therapeutic targets. In the following review, we intend to highlight the special structural and functional features of each chemokine sub-family in respect to their role in atherosclerosis and discuss to what extent such knowledge could be applied in diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic practices.
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