Heterogeneity of atherosclerotic plaque macrophage origin, phenotype and functions: Implications for treatment.

Abstract excerpt

Macrophages are key players in atherosclerotic lesions, regulating the local inflammatory milieu and plaque stability by the secretion of many inflammatory molecules, growth factors and cytokines. Monocytes have long been considered to be the main source of plaque macrophages. However, recent findings provide evidence for proliferation of local macrophages or transdifferentiation from other vascular cells as...

Topics

• Animals
• Humans
• Macrophages
• Molecular Targeted Therapy
• Monocytes
• Phenotype
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic