Open AccessDesign and utilization of macrophage and vascular smooth muscle cell co-culture systems in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease investigation
Author(s) -
Mary C. Zuniga,
S. L. Powell White,
Zhou Wei
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
vascular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.838
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1477-0377
pISSN - 1358-863X
DOI - 10.1177/1358863x14550542
Subject(s) - medicine , macrophage , vascular smooth muscle , monocyte , vascular disease , disease , cell type , in vitro , cell , pathology , foam cell , smooth muscle , immunology , biology , biochemistry
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has been acknowledged as a chronic inflammatory condition. Monocytes and macrophages lead the inflammatory pathology of atherosclerosis whereas changes in atheromatous plaque thickness and matrix composition are attributed to vascular smooth muscle cells. Because these cell types are key players in atherosclerosis progression, it is crucial to utilize a reliable system to investigate their interaction. In vitro co-culture systems are useful platforms to study specific molecular mechanisms between cells. This review aims to summarize the various co-culture models that have been developed to investigate vascular smooth muscle cell and monocyte/macrophage interactions, focusing on the monocyte/macrophage effects on vascular smooth muscle cell function.