University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, B18 7QH, United Kingdom.
Ann Med. 2010 Sep;42(6):394-403. doi: 10.3109/07853890.2010.497767.
Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The more we discover about the molecular pathways involved in atherosclerosis, the more we perceive the importance of monocytes in this process. Circulating monocytes are components of innate immunity, and many pro-inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules facilitate their adhesion and migration to the vascular endothelial wall. In addition to the accumulation of lipids and formation of atherogenic 'foam' cells, monocytes may promote atherosclerotic plaque growth by production of inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and reactive oxidative species. However, the contribution of monocytes to atherogenesis is not only limited to tissue destruction. Monocyte subsets are also involved in intraplaque angiogenesis and tissue reparative processes. The aim of this overview is to discuss the mechanisms of monocyte activation, the pivotal role and importance of activated monocytes in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, their implication in the development of acute coronary events, and their potential in cardiovascular reparative processes such angiogenesis.
炎症在动脉粥样硬化的发病机制中起着关键作用。我们对参与动脉粥样硬化的分子途径的了解越多，就越能认识到单核细胞在这一过程中的重要性。循环单核细胞是先天免疫的组成部分，许多促炎细胞因子和黏附分子促进它们黏附和迁移到血管内皮壁。除了脂质的积累和形成动脉粥样硬化的“泡沫”细胞外，单核细胞还可以通过产生炎症细胞因子、基质金属蛋白酶和活性氧化物质来促进动脉粥样硬化斑块的生长。然而，单核细胞对动脉粥样硬化形成的贡献不仅限于组织破坏。单核细胞亚群也参与斑块内血管生成和组织修复过程。本篇综述的目的是讨论单核细胞激活的机制、激活的单核细胞在动脉粥样硬化性冠状动脉疾病中的关键作用和重要性、它们在急性冠状动脉事件发展中的意义，以及它们在血管生成等心血管修复过程中的潜力。
