Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Volume 23, Issue 22, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214154
Keywords
foam cells; atherosclerosis; cholesterol; macrophages; dendritic cells; smooth muscle cells; endothelial cells; stem cells
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Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the development of plaque on artery walls. Foam cells, derived not only from macrophages but also from other cells, play a crucial role in plaque formation and rupture. These findings provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease depending on the buildup, called plaque, of lipoproteins, cholesterol, extracellular matrix elements, and various types of immune and non-immune cells on the artery walls. Plaque development and growth lead to the narrowing of the blood vessel lumen, blocking blood flow, and eventually may lead to plaque burst and a blood clot. The prominent cellular components of atherosclerotic plaque are the foam cells, which, by trying to remove lipoprotein and cholesterol surplus, also participate in plaque development and rupture. Although the common knowledge is that the foam cells derive from macrophages, studies of the last decade clearly showed that macrophages are not the only cells able to form foam cells in atherosclerotic plaque. These findings give a new perspective on atherosclerotic plaque formation and composition and define new targets for anti-foam cell therapies for atherosclerosis prevention. This review gives a concise description of foam cells of different pedigrees and describes the main mechanisms participating in their formation and function.
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