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Quantification of Monocyte Chemotactic Activity In Vivo and Characterization of Blood Monocyte Derived Macrophages
Published on: August 12, 2019
Inflammatory Chemokines in Atherosclerosis
Selin Gencer1, Bryce R Evans2, Emiel P C van der Vorst1,3,4,5
1Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80336 Munich, Germany.
Insights
Chemokines and their receptors are key drivers in atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory vascular disease. Targeting these molecules offers potential therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of artery walls, leading to dangerous lesions and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
- Chemokines and their receptors are increasingly recognized for their critical roles in the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.
- These molecules regulate immune cell activation, recruitment, and infiltration, influencing plaque development and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the function of immunomodulatory chemokines in atherosclerosis.
- To explore the potential of targeting chemokines and their receptors for therapeutic intervention in cardiovascular diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature focusing on chemokine and receptor functions in atherosclerosis.
- Analysis of data from cell-specific knockout models investigating chemokine roles in vascular inflammation.
Main Results:
- Chemokines orchestrate immune cell responses, including macrophage activation and foam cell formation, crucial for atherosclerotic plaque development.
- These signaling molecules also influence the homing of adaptive immune cells and promote pro-atherosclerotic leukocyte activities.
- Targeting specific chemokines or their receptors has emerged as a promising strategy to modulate chronic vascular inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Immunomodulatory chemokines are central players in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
- Targeting the chemokine system presents a viable therapeutic avenue for managing atherosclerosis and its severe cardiovascular complications.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is a long-term, chronic inflammatory disease of the vessel wall leading to the formation of occlusive or rupture-prone lesions in large arteries. Complications of atherosclerosis can become severe and lead to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with lethal consequences. During the last three decades, chemokines and their receptors earned great attention in the research of atherosclerosis as they play a key role in development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. They orchestrate activation, recruitment, and infiltration of immune cells and subsequent phenotypic changes, e.g., increased uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) by macrophages, promoting the development of foam cells, a key feature developing plaques. In addition, chemokines and their receptors maintain homing of adaptive immune cells but also drive pro-atherosclerotic leukocyte responses. Recently, specific targeting, e.g., by applying cell specific knock out models have shed new light on their functions in chronic vascular inflammation. This article reviews recent findings on the role of immunomodulatory chemokines in the development of atherosclerosis and their potential for targeting.
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