title: Integrin signaling in atherosclerosis.
abstract: Atherosclerosis, a chronic lipid-driven inflammatory disease affecting large arteries, represents the primary cause of cardiovascular disease in the world. The local remodeling of the vessel intima during atherosclerosis involves the modulation of vascular cell phenotype, alteration of cell migration and proliferation, and propagation of local extracellular matrix remodeling. All of these responses represent targets of the integrin family of cell adhesion receptors. As such, alterations in integrin signaling affect multiple aspects of atherosclerosis, from the earliest induction of inflammation to the development of advanced fibrotic plaques. Integrin signaling has been shown to regulate endothelial phenotype, facilitate leukocyte homing, affect leukocyte function, and drive smooth muscle fibroproliferative remodeling. In addition, integrin signaling in platelets contributes to the thrombotic complications that typically drive the clinical manifestation of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we examine the current literature on integrin regulation of atherosclerotic plaque development and the suitability of integrins as potential therapeutic targets to limit cardiovascular disease and its complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Finney
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA.
authors.forename: Karen Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Pattillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA. aorr@lsuhsc.edu.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA. aorr@lsuhsc.edu.|Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, 1501 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA, 71130, USA. aorr@lsuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: A Wayne
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2377-213X
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Orr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Extracellular matrix; Inflammation; Integrins; Migration; Proliferation