title: Macrophages in immunopathology of atherosclerosis: a target for diagnostics and therapy.
abstract: Immunopathology plays important roles in the development of different life-threatening diseases, such as atherosclerosis and its consequences (acute myocardial infarction and stroke), cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases. Effective modulation of the immune system may significantly increase the efficacy of prevention and therapy efforts. Currently there are no marketed drugs capable of normalizing immune system function in an intrinsic and comprehensive way. Here, we describe a test system designed for complex analysis of monocyte activity in individuals to diagnose immunopathology and monitor treatment efficacy. This cell-based test system may also be useful for screening compounds with an immune-correcting effects. Both diagnostic and screening systems are based on primary culture of human monocytes and/or monocyte-derived macrophages. This is the first step in creating a method for assessment of macrophage activity, which is required for further development of immune-correcting drugs. The existing preliminary data provide the basis for realization of this idea.
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Orekhov
authors.forename: Igor A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sobenin
authors.forename: Mikhail A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gavrilin
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gratchev
authors.forename: Svetlana Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kotyashova
authors.forename: Nikita G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Nikiforov
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 8 Baltiyskaya Street, 125315 Moscow, Russia. a.h.opexob@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kzhyshkowska
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C111792:CCL18 protein, human; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002784:Cholesterol