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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
Characterization of Human Monocyte Subsets by Whole Blood Flow Cytometry Analysis
Published on: October 17, 2018
Monocyte Subsets in Atherosclerosis and Modification with Exercise in Humans
Ning Hong Aw1, Elisa Canetti2, Katsuhiko Suzuki3
1School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore 139651, Singapore. nhong002@gmail.com.
Insights
Regular aerobic exercise can reduce atherosclerosis by modulating specific monocyte subsets involved in arterial inflammation. Exercise impacts monocyte behavior, potentially explaining its cardio-protective effects against cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Immunology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is characterized by chronic arterial inflammation and altered monocyte subsets.
- Specific monocyte subsets play key roles in atherosclerotic plaque development and progression.
- Aerobic exercise is a potent factor in mitigating cardiovascular disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on monocyte subsets in atherosclerosis.
- To highlight the impact of exercise on monocyte behavior and function.
- To explore exercise-induced monocyte modulation as a cardio-protective mechanism.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical and epidemiological studies.
- Analysis of research on monocyte subset contributions to atherosclerosis.
- Synthesis of findings on acute and chronic exercise effects on monocytes.
Main Results:
- Increased proportion and activation of specific monocyte subsets are observed in atherosclerosis.
- Aerobic fitness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality.
- Exercise training modulates monocyte recruitment, margination, and cytokine/chemokine production.
Conclusions:
- Monocyte subset modulation by exercise may underlie its cardio-protective effects.
- Understanding exercise-monocyte interactions is crucial for cardiovascular disease prevention.
- Further research can elucidate specific mechanisms of exercise's benefits on atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is a progressive pathological remodeling of the arteries and one of its hallmarks is the presence of chronic inflammation. Notably, there is an increased proportion and activation state of specific monocyte subsets in systemic blood circulation. Monocyte subsets have distinct contributions to the formation, progression, and destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque. Strong clinical and epidemiological studies show that regular aerobic exercise mitigates the progression of cardiovascular disease. In fact, aerobic fitness is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular mortality in adults, independent of traditional risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Acute bouts and chronic exercise training modulate monocyte behavior, ranging from their recruitment from the bone marrow or marginal pool, to tissue margination and functional changes in cytokine and chemokine production. Such modulation could reflect a potential mechanism for the cardio-protective effect of exercise on atherosclerosis. This review summarizes the current knowledge of monocyte subsets and highlights what is known about their responses to exercise.
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