Huang Qingyan, Gan Yuhong, Yu Zhikang, Wu Heming, Zhong Zhixiong
Center for Precision Medicine, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, China.
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou, China.
Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Sep 17;8:734550. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.734550. eCollection 2021.
Atherosclerosis is a fundamental disease of the cardiovascular system that leads to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The endothelium is the first protective barrier in atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells have the potential to be transformed into mesenchymal cells, in a process termed endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT). On the one hand, EndMT is known to contribute to atherosclerosis by inducing a number of phenotypes ranging from endothelial cell dysfunction to plaque formation. On the other hand, risk factors for atherosclerosis can lead to EndMT. A substantial body of evidence has suggested that EndMT induces the development of atherosclerosis; therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying EndMT in atherosclerosis might provide insights to reverse this condition.
动脉粥样硬化是一种心血管系统的基础性疾病，在全球范围内导致高发病率和高死亡率。内皮是动脉粥样硬化中的第一道保护屏障。内皮细胞有转化为间充质细胞的潜力，这一过程称为内皮-间充质转化（EndMT）。一方面，已知EndMT通过诱导从内皮细胞功能障碍到斑块形成等多种表型来促进动脉粥样硬化。另一方面，动脉粥样硬化的危险因素可导致EndMT。大量证据表明EndMT会促使动脉粥样硬化的发展；因此，更深入地了解动脉粥样硬化中EndMT的分子机制可能为逆转这种状况提供思路。
