ISSN: 1449-1907International Journal of Medical Sciences
Global reach, higher impact
Int J Med Sci 2024; 21(6):1129-1143. doi:10.7150/ijms.94570 This issue Cite
Review
The role of immune cells in different stages of atherosclerosis
1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, PR China.
2. Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, School of Public Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, PR China.
3. Department of Pharmacology, Harbin Medical University-Daqing, Daqing 163319, PR China.
4. Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
5. Department of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
#Cong He and Hyo In Kim contributed equally and share first authorship.
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the accumulation of immune cells in the intima of arteries. Experimental and clinical evidence shows that both innate and adaptive immunity orchestrate the progression of atherosclerosis. The heterogeneous nature of immune cells within atherosclerosis lesions is important. Studies utilizing high-dimensional mass spectrometry and single-cell RNA sequencing of leukocytes from atherosclerotic lesions show the diversity and adaptability of these immune cell subtypes. Their migration, compositional changes, phenotypic alterations, and adaptive responses are key features throughout atherosclerosis progression. Understanding how these immune cells and their subtypes affect atherogenesis would help to develop novel therapeutic approaches that control atherosclerosis progression. Precise targeting of specific immune system components involved in atherosclerosis, rather than broad suppression of the immune system with anti-inflammatory agents, can more accurately regulate the progress of atherosclerosis with fewer side effects. In this review, we cover the most recent advances in the field of atherosclerosis to understand the role of various immune cells on its development. We focus on the complex network of immune cells and the interaction between the innate immune system and adaptive immune system.
Keywords: atherosclerosis, inflammation, innate immunity, adaptive immunity
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