The specific role of chemokines in atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that represents the primary cause of heart disease and stroke. The recruitment of inflammatory cells in the intima is an essential step in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. This process is triggered by local production of chemokines and chemokine receptors from activated endothelial cells and inflammatory cells. Various members of the CC chemokine family (e.g. MCP-1/CCL2) as well as CXC family (e.g. IL-8/CCL8, IP-10/CXCL10, SDF-1/CXCL12) and, more recently, fractalkine/CX3CL1 have been implicated in atherosclerosis development. Latest findings in animal models suggest that blocking chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions may serve as a suitable approach to treat atherosclerosis. Likewise, chemokine antagonists that inhibit leukocyte recruitment could particularly be interesting to treat inflammation in response to myocardial infarction, the major consequence of atherosclerosis.
Braunersreuther
Vincent
V
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Foundation for Medical Researches, 64 Avenue Roseraie, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Mach
François
F
Steffens
Sabine
S
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D018925:Chemokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology
D018925:Chemokines; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine