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Updated: May 8, 2026

A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology
Published on: May 6, 2014
NR4A nuclear receptors in immunity and atherosclerosis
Anouk A J Hamers1, Richard N Hanna, Heba Nowyhed
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Purpose Of Review:
To understand chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, we require in-depth knowledge on immune-cell differentiation, function of specific immune-cell subsets and endothelial cell-mediated extravasation. In this review, we summarize a number of very recent observations on the pivotal function of NR4A nuclear receptors in immunity and atherosclerosis.
Recent Findings:
NR4A nuclear receptors are involved in negative selection of thymocytes, Treg differentiation and the development of Ly6C monocytes. Nur77 and Nurr1 attenuate atherosclerosis in mice whereas NOR-1 aggravates vascular lesion formation.
Summary:
These exciting, novel insights on the function of NR4A nuclear receptors in immunity, vascular cells and atherosclerosis will initiate a plethora of studies to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms, which will culminate in the identification of novel NR4A targets to modulate chronic inflammatory disease.
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