The role of mast cells in atherosclerosis.
Rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque is the major underlying cause of adverse cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Therapeutic interventions should therefore be directed towards inhibiting growth of atherosclerotic lesions as well as towards prevention of lesion destabilization. Interestingly, the presence of mast cells has been demonstrated in both murine and human plaques, and multiple interventional murine studies have pointed out a direct role for mast cells in early and late stages of atherosclerosis. Moreover, it has recently been described that activated lesional mast cells correlate with major cardiovascular events in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. This review focuses on the effect of different mast cell derived mediators in atherogenesis and in late stage plaque destabilization. Also, possible ligands for mast cell activation in the context of atherosclerosis are discussed. Finally, we will elaborate on the predictive value of mast cells, together with therapeutic implications, in cardiovascular disease.
A
A
Wezel
P H A
PH
Quax
J
J
Kuiper
Ilze Bot, Division of Biopharmaceutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands, Tel. +31/(0)71/527 62 13, E-mail: i.bot@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl.
I
I
Bot
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D018448:Models, Immunological
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
Mast cells; atherosclerosis; plaque instability; proteases; therapy