Open AccessClinical significance of macrophage phenotypes in cardiovascular disease
Author(s) -
Medbury Heather J,
Williams Helen,
Fletcher John P
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
clinical and translational medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2001-1326
DOI - 10.1186/s40169-014-0042-1
Subject(s) - macrophage , function (biology) , medicine , disease , phenotype , immunology , bioinformatics , biology , in vitro , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
The emerging understanding of macrophage subsets and their functions in the atherosclerotic plaque has led to the consensus that M1 macrophages are pro‐atherogenic while M2 macrophages may promote plaque stability, primarily though their tissue repair and anti‐inflammatory properties. As such, modulating macrophage function to promote plaque stability is an exciting therapeutic prospect. This review will outline the involvement of the different macrophage subsets throughout atherosclerosis progression and in models of regression. It is evident that much of our understanding of macrophage function comes from in vitro or small animal models and, while such knowledge is valuable, we have much to learn about the roles of the macrophage subsets in the clinical setting in order to identify the key pathways to target to possibly promote plaque stability.