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Endothelial cells and macrophages, partners in atherosclerotic plaque progression
1Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology N. Simionescu, Bucharest, Romania. felicia.antohe@icbp.ro
Insights
This review explores using folic acid to detect macrophages and proteomics to understand vascular cell changes in atherosclerosis. These methods could lead to early detection and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Atherosclerosis Research
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, are global epidemics.
- Atherosclerosis, driven by abnormal lipids, is a leading cause of death worldwide.
- While treatments have improved, CVDs remain a significant healthcare burden, necessitating early detection and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of folic acid and its conjugates in identifying activated macrophages.
- To explore the utility of proteomic analysis in detecting molecular changes in activated vascular cells.
- To highlight novel approaches for early diagnosis and prevention of atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on folic acid applications in macrophage identification.
- Analysis of proteomic techniques for studying vascular cell responses in atherosclerosis.
- Integration of findings on cellular interactions within atherosclerotic plaques.
Main Results:
- Folic acid and its conjugates show promise as tools for visualizing activated macrophages.
- Proteomic analysis can reveal critical molecular alterations in vascular cells during plaque development.
- Understanding these cellular and molecular dynamics is key to modulating plaque progression or regression.
Conclusions:
- Folic acid-based strategies may offer a pathway for early identification of atherosclerotic processes.
- Proteomics provides a powerful lens to investigate the complex cellular changes in vascular cells.
- Combined approaches hold potential for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
Heart disease and stroke, the main cardiovascular diseases (CVD), have become global epidemics in our days. High levels of cholesterol and other abnormal lipids are among the main risk factors of atherosclerosis, the number one killer in the world. However, recent advances in CVD treatment together with improvements in surgical techniques have increased the quality of life and reduced premature death rates and disabilities. Nevertheless, they still add a heavy burden to the rising global costs of health care. The medical priorities highlight not only the need for early recognition of the warning signs of a heart attack, but also the need for early biomarkers for prevention. Two active partners in the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques are the macrophages and endothelial cells that influence each other and modify the microenvironment composition of the plaque leading to either rapid progression or regression of individual lesions in patients. In this review we address two specific aspects related to atherosclerosis: i) the way in which folic acid and folic acid conjugates may be helpful to identify activated macrophages and ii) the high potential of proteomic analysis to evidence and identify the multiple changes induced in activated vascular cells.
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