Related Experiment Videos
Chemokines and atherosclerosis
R Terkeltaub1, W A Boisvert, L K Curtiss
1Department of Medicine, VA Medical Centre, University of California, San Diego, USA. rterkeltaub@ucsd.edu
Insights
Chemokines, like monocyte chemoattractant and activating protein-1, drive chronic inflammation in atherosclerosis by recruiting and activating immune cells. New research highlights roles for C-C and C-X-C chemokine subfamilies in disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Immunology
- Molecular Medicine
Background:
- Atherogenesis involves chronic inflammation, characterized by leukocyte recruitment and activation within lesions.
- Chemokines, small polypeptides, are crucial regulators of leukocyte migration, growth, and activation.
- Monocyte chemoattractant and activating protein-1 (MCP-1) was the first chemokine linked to leukocyte-mediated inflammation in atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review new information on the atherogenic roles of MCP-1 and related C-C chemokines.
- To highlight the newly recognized atherogenic roles of C-X-C chemokines, including interleukin-8 (IL-8) and growth-regulated oncogene alpha (GRO-alpha).
- To discuss stimuli, such as CD40 ligand, that promote chemokine expression in atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on recent studies in atherogenesis and chemokine function.
- Analysis of the roles of C-C and C-X-C chemokine subfamilies in inflammatory processes.
- Examination of regulatory mechanisms, including CD40 ligand-mediated chemokine expression.
Main Results:
- MCP-1 and other C-C chemokines play significant roles in the inflammatory pathways of atherosclerosis.
- C-X-C chemokines, specifically IL-8 and GRO-alpha, exhibit newly identified atherogenic functions.
- CD40 ligand and other stimuli can induce chemokine expression, contributing to atherosclerotic development.
Conclusions:
- Chemokines are central mediators of inflammatory cell recruitment and activation in atherosclerosis.
- Specific C-C and C-X-C chemokines are key contributors to atherogenesis.
- Understanding chemokine regulation provides potential therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
The recruitment of mononuclear leukocytes, and the migration, growth and activation of macrophages, lymphocytes and smooth muscle cells within lesions, are critical features of the chronic inflammatory response that typifies atherogenesis. Chemokines are members of a superfamily of small polypeptides that mediate not only migration, but also growth and activation of leukocytes and a variety of other cells. Monocyte chemoattractant and activating protein-1 was the first chemokine to be implicated in leukocyte-mediated inflammation in atherosclerosis. This review emphasizes new information on the potential atherogenic roles of monocyte chemoattractant and activating protein-1 and several other closely related chemokines of the C-C subfamily. We focus particular attention on the newly recognized atherogenic role of a subgroup of closely related chemokines of the C-X-C subfamily that includes interleukin-8 and growth regulated oncogene alpha. We also discuss new studies that reveal how CD40 ligand and certain other stimuli can promote chemokine expression in atherosclerosis.