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The sentinels of coronary artery disease: heterogeneous monocytes
Yanyu Chen1,2, Daya Luo3, Renzhuo Gao4
1Jiangxi Cardiovascular Research Institute, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China.
Insights
Monocyte heterogeneity is key in coronary artery disease (CAD) inflammation. Understanding these immune cell variations can improve CAD diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Monocytes are crucial immune cells in atherosclerosis.
- They act as sentinels and mediators in coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Monocyte heterogeneity impacts disease progression and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review monocyte heterogeneity in CAD.
- To explore alterations in monocyte subsets and their clinical correlations.
- To propose strategies for enhancing clinical utility and future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical studies on monocyte heterogeneity in CAD.
- Analysis of monocyte subset numbers, proportions, and functional receptor expression.
- Integration of findings from high-parameter flow cytometry and single-cell sequencing.
Main Results:
- Monocyte heterogeneity in CAD is diverse and complex, varying by disease subtype and stage.
- Alterations in monocyte subsets correlate with clinical features.
- Advanced technologies reveal detailed insights into monocyte roles.
Conclusions:
- Understanding monocyte heterogeneity offers new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for CAD.
- Identifying disease-specific monocyte subtypes is a key future goal.
- Further research can enhance the clinical value of monocyte analysis in CAD.
Abstract:
Monocytes are heterogeneous immune cells that play a crucial role in the inflammatory response during atherosclerosis, influencing the progression and outcome of the disease. In the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic diseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), monocytes not only serve as the initial sensors of endogenous and exogenous pathogenic factors, but also function as intermediators that bridge the circulatory system and localized lesions. In the bloodstream, heterogeneous monocytes, acting as sentinels, are rapidly recruited to atherosclerotic lesions, where they exhibit a heightened capacity to respond to various pathological stimuli upon detecting signals from damaged vascular endothelial cells. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the heterogeneity of monocytes in CAD patients presents both diversity and complexity, varying across different disease subtypes and pathological stages. This review explores the heterogeneity of monocytes in CAD, focusing on alterations in monocyte subset numbers, proportions, and the expression of functional receptors, as well as their correlations with clinical features. Additionally, we propose strategies to enhance the clinical utility value of monocyte heterogeneity and outline future research directions in the field of CAD. With the widespread application of high-parameter flow cytometry and single-cell sequencing technologies, it is anticipated that a comprehensive understanding of monocyte heterogeneity in CAD will be achieved, enabling the identification of disease-specific monocyte subtypes. This could offer new opportunities for improving the diagnosis and treatment of CAD.
