title: Fcγ receptors and ligands and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) classically modulate intracellular signaling on binding of the Fc region of IgG in immune response cells. How FcγR and their ligands affect cardiovascular health and disease has been interrogated recently in both preclinical and clinical studies. The stimulation of activating FcγR in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and monocytes/macrophages causes a variety of cellular responses that may contribute to vascular disease pathogenesis. Stimulation of the lone inhibitory FγcR, FcγRIIB, also has adverse consequences in endothelial cells, antagonizing NO production and reparative mechanisms. In preclinical disease models, activating FcγRs promote atherosclerosis, whereas FcγRIIB is protective, and activating FcγRs also enhance thrombotic and nonthrombotic vascular occlusion. The FcγR ligand C-reactive protein (CRP) has undergone intense study. Although in rodents CRP does not affect atherosclerosis, it causes hypertension and insulin resistance and worsens myocardial infarction. Massive data have accumulated indicating an association between increases in circulating CRP and coronary heart disease in humans. However, Mendelian randomization studies reveal that CRP is not likely a disease mediator. CRP genetics and hypertension warrant further investigation. To date, studies of genetic variants of activating FcγRs are insufficient to implicate the receptors in coronary heart disease pathogenesis in humans. However, a link between FcγRIIB and human hypertension may be emerging. Further knowledge of the vascular biology of FcγR and their ligands will potentially enhance our understanding of cardiovascular disorders, particularly in patients whose greater predisposition for disease is not explained by traditional risk factors, such as individuals with autoimmune disorders.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pediatrics, Center for Pulmonary and Vascular Biology (K.T., N.S., C.M., P.W.S.), and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine (A.K., W.V.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanigaki
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pediatrics, Center for Pulmonary and Vascular Biology (K.T., N.S., C.M., P.W.S.), and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine (A.K., W.V.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sundgren
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pediatrics, Center for Pulmonary and Vascular Biology (K.T., N.S., C.M., P.W.S.), and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine (A.K., W.V.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khera
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pediatrics, Center for Pulmonary and Vascular Biology (K.T., N.S., C.M., P.W.S.), and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine (A.K., W.V.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Wanpen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vongpatanasin
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pediatrics, Center for Pulmonary and Vascular Biology (K.T., N.S., C.M., P.W.S.), and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine (A.K., W.V.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Chieko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mineo
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pediatrics, Center for Pulmonary and Vascular Biology (K.T., N.S., C.M., P.W.S.), and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine (A.K., W.V.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. philip.shaul@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Shaul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D008024:Ligands; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; atherosclerosis; hypertension; nitric oxide synthase type III