Chemokines in the vascular inflammatory response of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is considered to be a chronic inflammatory disease of the vessel wall that encompasses the accumulation of lipids, and it is critically shaped by the recruitment of leucocytes during all phases of the disease. In addition, the progression of atherosclerosis is determined by a disturbed equilibrium of immune responses. Chemokines and their receptors are instrumental in orchestrating the influx of leucocytes to the vascular wall, but also seem to regulate immune functions. Recent work has shed light on the apparent redundancy and the robustness of the chemokine system and has also provided evidence for its specialized role in the regulation of specific functions and trafficking of leucocyte subpopulations. This review will give a comprehensive summary to highlight those chemokines addressed in different models of atherosclerosis and vascular injury to date. In addition, we will discuss recent developments scrutinizing heterophilic interactions of chemokines that have advanced our understanding of how chemokines control vascular inflammatory responses.