Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences (CVS), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Curr Opin Lipidol. 2020 Oct;31(5):273-278. doi: 10.1097/MOL.0000000000000700.
Fibroblasts are very heterogeneous and plastic cells in the vasculature. A growing interest in fibroblasts in healthy and atherosclerotic vasculature is observed, next to macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). In this review, we discuss fibroblast presence, heterogeneity, origin, and plasticity in health and atherosclerosis based on latest literature.
With help of single cell sequencing (SCS) techniques, we have gained more insight into presence and functions of fibroblasts in atherosclerosis. Next to SMCs, fibroblasts are extracellular matrix-producing cells abundant in the vasculature and involved in atherogenesis. Fibroblasts encompass a heterogeneous population and SCS data reveal several fibroblast clusters in healthy and atherosclerotic tissue with varying gene expression and function. Moreover, recent findings indicate interesting similarities between adventitial stem and/or progenitor cells and fibroblasts. Also, communication with inflammatory cells opens up a new therapeutic avenue.
Because of their highly plastic and heterogeneous nature, modulating fibroblast cell function and communication in the atherosclerotic vessel might be useful in battling atherosclerosis from within the plaque.
成纤维细胞是血管中非常异质和具有可塑性的细胞。除了巨噬细胞、内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞（SMC）外，人们对健康和动脉粥样硬化血管中成纤维细胞的兴趣日益浓厚。在这篇综述中，我们根据最新文献讨论了成纤维细胞在健康和动脉粥样硬化中的存在、异质性、来源和可塑性。
借助单细胞测序（SCS）技术，我们对动脉粥样硬化中成纤维细胞的存在和功能有了更深入的了解。除了 SMC 外，成纤维细胞也是富含在血管中的细胞外基质产生细胞，并参与动脉粥样硬化的发生。成纤维细胞包含一个异质群体，SCS 数据显示在健康和动脉粥样硬化组织中有几个具有不同基因表达和功能的成纤维细胞簇。此外，最近的研究结果表明，外膜干细胞和/或祖细胞和成纤维细胞之间存在有趣的相似性。此外，与炎症细胞的交流开辟了新的治疗途径。
由于其高度的可塑性和异质性，调节动脉粥样硬化血管中成纤维细胞的功能和通讯可能有助于从斑块内部对抗动脉粥样硬化。
