title: The role of macrophages and dendritic cells in the clearance of apoptotic cells in advanced atherosclerosis.
abstract: Accumulating evidence supports the notion that defective phagocytic clearance of dying cells, or defective "efferocytosis," is causally linked to the progression of advanced atherosclerosis. In advanced atherosclerotic lesions, defective efferocytosis leads to post-apoptotic necrosis, expansion of plaque necrotic cores, and susceptibility to atherothrombosis. Both macrophages and DC-like efferocytes are juxtaposed near expanding necrotic cores, where they engage apoptotic cells. In this Viewpoint, we discuss how reduced efferocytosis by macrophages and CD11c(HI)  DC-like cells may combine to reduce overall plaque stability and therefore promote susceptibility to acute atherothrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. ebthorp@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thorp
authors.forename: Manikandan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tabas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D039521:CD11c Antigen; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D009336:Necrosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D013927:Thrombosis
chemical_list: D039521:CD11c Antigen