Nuclear receptor control of opposing macrophage phenotypes in cardiovascular disease

Macrophages have important physiological roles and display a high degree of heterogeneous phenotypes in response to a variety of stimuli. In particular, the spectrum of alternatively activated macrophages has been a focus because many lines of evidence indicate a cardioprotective role for this macrophage phenotype. This phenotype is controlled in part by opposing nuclear transcription factors including the PPARs that stimulate alternative activation and the recently recognized role of the mineralocorticoid receptor in stimulating classically activated macrophages. This review highlights some of the recent findings involving alternatively activated macrophages and these nuclear receptors in cardiovascular disease.