Role of KCa3.1 Channels in Macrophage Polarization and Its Relevance in Atherosclerotic Plaque Instability

• Published in: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 226 - 236
• Main Authors: Xu, Rende, Li, Chenguang, Wu, Yizhe, Shen, Li, Ma, Jianying, Qian, Juying, Ge, Junbo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Apolipoproteins E - deficiency; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Atherosclerosis - genetics; Atherosclerosis - metabolism; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Atherosclerosis - prevention & control; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Interferon-gamma - pharmacology; Interleukin-4 - pharmacology; Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels - antagonists & inhibitors; Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels - genetics; Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - metabolism; Macrophages - pathology; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Phenotype; Phosphorylation; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Potassium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; RNA Interference; Rupture, Spontaneous; Signal Transduction; STAT1 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Transfection; KCa3.1 channel; atherosclerosis; macrophage polarization; apolipoprotein; plaque instability

Emerging evidence indicates that proinflammatory macrophage polarization imbalance plays a key role in atherosclerotic plaque progression and instability. The calcium-activated potassium channel KCa3.1 is critically involved in macrophage activation and function. However, the role of KCa3.1 in macro...