Monocyte recruitment and foam cell formation in atherosclerosis

• Published in: Micron (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 208 - 222
• Main Author: Bobryshev, Yuri V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2006
• Subjects: Aorta - immunology; Arteries; Arteries - immunology; Arteriosclerosis; Atherogenesis; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - immunology; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Cell Differentiation; Cell Movement; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Foam cells; Foam Cells - cytology; Foam Cells - immunology; Humans; Intima; Lipoproteins - metabolism; Macrophages; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Microscopy, Electron; Monocytes; Monocytes - cytology; Monocytes - immunology; Monocytes - ultrastructure; Tunica Intima - immunology; Atherogenesis; Monocytes; Dendritic cells; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Intima; Macrophages; Foam cells; Arteries
• ISSN: 0968-4328; 1878-4291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2005.10.007

Atherosclerosis is a chronic immune-inflammatory disease in which the interactions of monocytes with activated endothelium are crucial events leading to atherosclerotic alteration of the arterial intima. In early atherosclerosis, monocytes migrate into the subendothelial layer of the intima where they differentiate into macrophages or dendritic cells. In the subendothelial space enriched with atherogenic lipoproteins, most macrophages transform into foam cells. Foam cells aggregate to form the atheromatous core and as this process progresses, the atheromatous centres of plaques become necrotic, consisting of lipids, cholesterol crystals and cell debris. This review highlights some aspects of monocyte recruitment and foam cell formation in atherosclerosis.