Monocyte subsets in atherosclerosis.
Endothelial dysfunction and chronic inflammation of the arterial wall continuously drive the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Monocytes, as cells of the innate immunity, are particularly involved in this process. In the last decade, heterogeneity of circulating monocytes has widely been acknowledged, and a recent consensus nomenclature subdivides classical, intermediate and nonclassical monocytes. Accumulating experimental and clinical data suggest a differential, subset-specific contribution of monocytes to the pathology of atherosclerosis. This review summarizes recent key findings on human and mouse monocyte subpopulations, specifically highlighting their phenotype, functional characteristics and mechanisms of recruitment at homeostatic conditions, in atherosclerotic vascular disease, and after acute myocardial infarction.
PD Dr. med. Michael Hristov, IPEK, LMU München, Pettenkoferstr. 9, 80336 München, Tel. +49/(0)89/440 05 43 -71 Fax -82, E-mail: michael.hristov@med.uni-muenchen.de.
M
M
Hristov
G H
GH
Heine
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009000:Monocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013045:Species Specificity
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
Leukocytes; coronary artery disease; obesity; recruitment; smoking