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Updated: May 27, 2026
08:01
Synthesis of Monocyte-targeting Peptide Amphiphile Micelles for Imaging of Atherosclerosis
Published on: November 17, 2017
Cell adhesion molecules as pharmaceutical target in atherosclerosis
S Ling1, L Nheu, P A Komesaroff
1Department of Medicine, Monash University Central Clinical School, Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Prahran, Melbourne, Victoria 3181, Australia. shanhong.ling@monash.edu
Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
|November 11, 2011
Summary
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are key in atherosclerosis development by promoting leukocyte recruitment. Targeting CAMs with new drugs offers promising therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are transmembrane proteins crucial for cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions.
- Their increased expression and activation in vascular endothelium and leukocytes contribute to leukocyte recruitment in atherosclerosis pathogenesis.
- Conditions like inflammation, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes exacerbate CAMs' role in atherogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding the pathophysiology of CAMs in atherogenesis.
- To survey pharmaceutical agents and chemicals targeting CAMs.
- To assess the potential for clinical development in preventing, monitoring, and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent scientific publications.
- Analysis of studies on CAMs' role in atherosclerosis.
- Evaluation of pharmaceutical agents targeting CAMs' production and function.
Main Results:
- CAMs play a significant role in leukocyte recruitment, a critical step in atherosclerosis.
- Various pharmaceutical agents and chemicals have been developed to modulate CAMs.
- These agents show potential for clinical application in managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
Conclusions:
- CAMs are pivotal in the inflammatory processes underlying atherosclerosis.
- Targeting CAMs represents a promising therapeutic avenue for cardiovascular diseases.
- Further clinical development of CAM-targeting agents could improve patient outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
01:20Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
01:31Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
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01:25Selectins
Cell adhesion is an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...