Smooth Muscle Cell—Macrophage Interactions Leading to Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, Location
Cholesterol-overloaded cells or “foam cells” in the artery wall are the biochemical hallmark of atherosclerosis, and are responsible for much of the growth, inflammation and susceptibility to rupture of atherosclerotic lesions. While it has previously been thought that macrophages are the main contr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.921597/full |
| _version_ | 1811343417838403584 |
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| author | Pinhao Xiang Valentin Blanchard Gordon A. Francis |
| author_facet | Pinhao Xiang Valentin Blanchard Gordon A. Francis |
| author_sort | Pinhao Xiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cholesterol-overloaded cells or “foam cells” in the artery wall are the biochemical hallmark of atherosclerosis, and are responsible for much of the growth, inflammation and susceptibility to rupture of atherosclerotic lesions. While it has previously been thought that macrophages are the main contributor to the foam cell population, recent evidence indicates arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are the source of the majority of foam cells in both human and murine atherosclerosis. This review outlines the timeline, site of appearance and proximity of SMCs and macrophages with lipids in human and mouse atherosclerosis, and likely interactions between SMCs and macrophages that promote foam cell formation and removal by both cell types. An understanding of these SMC-macrophage interactions in foam cell formation and regression is expected to provide new therapeutic targets to reduce the burden of atherosclerosis for the prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:29:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7fcb1763cf06485884e187c9de09e9ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:29:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7fcb1763cf06485884e187c9de09e9ad2022-12-22T02:33:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2022-06-011310.3389/fphys.2022.921597921597Smooth Muscle Cell—Macrophage Interactions Leading to Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, LocationPinhao XiangValentin BlanchardGordon A. FrancisCholesterol-overloaded cells or “foam cells” in the artery wall are the biochemical hallmark of atherosclerosis, and are responsible for much of the growth, inflammation and susceptibility to rupture of atherosclerotic lesions. While it has previously been thought that macrophages are the main contributor to the foam cell population, recent evidence indicates arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are the source of the majority of foam cells in both human and murine atherosclerosis. This review outlines the timeline, site of appearance and proximity of SMCs and macrophages with lipids in human and mouse atherosclerosis, and likely interactions between SMCs and macrophages that promote foam cell formation and removal by both cell types. An understanding of these SMC-macrophage interactions in foam cell formation and regression is expected to provide new therapeutic targets to reduce the burden of atherosclerosis for the prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.921597/fullatherosclerosissmooth muscle cellsmacrophagesfoam cellshumanmouse |
| spellingShingle | Pinhao Xiang Valentin Blanchard Gordon A. Francis Smooth Muscle Cell—Macrophage Interactions Leading to Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, Location Frontiers in Physiology atherosclerosis smooth muscle cells macrophages foam cells human mouse |
| title | Smooth Muscle Cell—Macrophage Interactions Leading to Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, Location |
| title_full | Smooth Muscle Cell—Macrophage Interactions Leading to Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, Location |
| title_fullStr | Smooth Muscle Cell—Macrophage Interactions Leading to Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, Location |
| title_full_unstemmed | Smooth Muscle Cell—Macrophage Interactions Leading to Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, Location |
| title_short | Smooth Muscle Cell—Macrophage Interactions Leading to Foam Cell Formation in Atherosclerosis: Location, Location, Location |
| title_sort | smooth muscle cell macrophage interactions leading to foam cell formation in atherosclerosis location location location |
| topic | atherosclerosis smooth muscle cells macrophages foam cells human mouse |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.921597/full |
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