TY - JOUR
T1 - Crosstalk between macrophages and smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic vascular diseases
AU - Koga, Jun ichiro
AU - Aikawa, Masanori
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was in part supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health ( R01HL107550 ) to Dr. Aikawa, and by the Banyu Fellowship Grant to Dr. Koga. We thank Dr. Ichiro Manabe for his critical reading of the manuscript and helpful advice and Ms. Sara Karwacki for her editorial expertise.
PY - 2012/8/19
Y1 - 2012/8/19
N2 - Macrophages and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) represent major players in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular diseases. SMCs often reside in close proximity to macrophage clusters. Activated macrophages may promote pro-atherogenic functions of SMCs. Addressing macrophage-dependent mechanisms of SMC activation may provide new insight into atherogenesis and new therapies for various vascular diseases. Direct evidence for such interplay between atherosclerosis-associated cell types, however, remains scant. While SMC-derived macrophage foam cells have long been reported, recent evidence has also identified SMC-like cells of monocyte origin, suggesting dynamic interchangeability of these cell types. Future efforts may help to understand the interplay between key cell types and offer new paradigms in vascular medicine and pharmacology.
AB - Macrophages and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) represent major players in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular diseases. SMCs often reside in close proximity to macrophage clusters. Activated macrophages may promote pro-atherogenic functions of SMCs. Addressing macrophage-dependent mechanisms of SMC activation may provide new insight into atherogenesis and new therapies for various vascular diseases. Direct evidence for such interplay between atherosclerosis-associated cell types, however, remains scant. While SMC-derived macrophage foam cells have long been reported, recent evidence has also identified SMC-like cells of monocyte origin, suggesting dynamic interchangeability of these cell types. Future efforts may help to understand the interplay between key cell types and offer new paradigms in vascular medicine and pharmacology.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.vph.2012.02.011
DO - 10.1016/j.vph.2012.02.011
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22402259
AN - SCOPUS:84862584329
VL - 57
SP - 24
EP - 28
JO - Vascular Pharmacology
JF - Vascular Pharmacology
SN - 1537-1891
IS - 1
ER -