Title:Macrophage: A Key Therapeutic Target in Atherosclerosis?
Volume: 25
Issue: 29
Author(s): Eskandar Taghizadeh, Forough Taheri, Pedram G. Renani, Željko Reiner, Jamshid G. Navashenaq and Amirhossein Sahebkar*
Affiliation:
- Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran,Iran
Keywords:
Leukocyte, atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, immune system, anti-inflammatory, monocyte/macrophage.
Abstract:
Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and a leading cause of coronary artery
disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke. Lipid-laden macrophages are derived from circulating monocytes
and form fatty streaks as the first step of atherogenesis.
Methods: An electronic search in major databases was performed to review new therapeutic opportunities for
influencing the inflammatory component of atherosclerosis based on monocytes/macrophages targeting.
Results: In the past two decades, macrophages have been recognized as the main players in atherogenesis but also
in its thrombotic complications. There is a growing interest in immunometabolism and recent studies on metabolism
of macrophages have created new therapeutic options to treat atherosclerosis. Targeting recruitment, polarization,
cytokine profile extracellular matrix remodeling, cholesterol metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammatory
activity and non-coding RNAs of monocyte/macrophage have been proposed as potential therapeutic approaches
against atherosclerosis.
Conclusion: Monocytes/macrophages have a crucial role in progression and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Therefore, targeting monocyte/macrophage therapy in order to achieve anti-inflammatory effects might be a good
option for prevention of atherosclerosis.
