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Journal of the American College of... Jun 2023
Topics: Humans; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Atherosclerosis; Rupture, Spontaneous
PubMed: 37286251
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.05.001 -
Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS May 2023Atherosclerosis is an underlying pathology of many vascular diseases as a result of cellular, structural and molecular dysfunctions within the sub-endothelial space.... (Review)
Review
Atherosclerosis is an underlying pathology of many vascular diseases as a result of cellular, structural and molecular dysfunctions within the sub-endothelial space. This review deals with the events involved in the formation, growth and remodeling of plaque, including the cell recruitment, cell polarization, and cell fat droplets. It also describes cross talking between endothelial cells, macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells, as well as the cellular pathways involved in plaque development in the plaque microenvironment. Finally, it describes the plaque structural components and the role of factors involved in the rupture and erosion of plaques in the vessel. Video Abstract.
Topics: Humans; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Endothelial Cells; Atherosclerosis
PubMed: 37254185
DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01153-w -
Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical... Feb 2020Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries and it affects the structure and function of all three layers of the coronary artery wall. Current theories... (Review)
Review
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries and it affects the structure and function of all three layers of the coronary artery wall. Current theories suggest that the dysfunction of endothelial cells is one of the initial steps in the development of atherosclerosis. The view that the tunica intima normally consists of a single layer of endothelial cells attached to the subendothelial layer and internal elastic membrane has been questioned in recent years. The structure of intima changes with age and it becomes multilayered due to migration of smooth muscle cells from the media to intima. At this stage, the migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells do not cause pathological changes in the intima. The multilayering of intima is classically considered to be an important stage in the development of atherosclerosis, but in fact atherosclerotic plaques develop only focally due to the interplay of various processes that involve the resident and invading inflammatory cells. The tunica media consists of multiple layers of smooth muscle cells that produce the extracellular matrix, and this layer normally does not contain microvessels. During the development of atherosclerosis, the microvessels from the tunica adventitia or from the lumen may penetrate thickened media to provide nutrition and oxygenation. According to some theories, the endothelial dysfunction of these nutritive vessels may significantly contribute to the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. The adventitia contains fibroblasts, progenitor cells, immune cells, microvessels, and adrenergic nerves. The degree of inflammatory cell infiltration into the adventitia, which can lead to the formation of tertiary lymphoid organs, correlates with the severity of atherosclerotic plaques. Coronary arteries are surrounded by perivascular adipose tissue that also participates in the atherosclerotic process.
Topics: Adventitia; Coronary Artery Disease; Humans; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Tunica Intima; Tunica Media
PubMed: 31465719
DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2019.4320 -
Redox Biology Aug 2017Atherosclerosis is a multifocal alteration of the vascular wall of medium and large arteries characterized by a local accumulation of cholesterol and non-resolving... (Review)
Review
Atherosclerosis is a multifocal alteration of the vascular wall of medium and large arteries characterized by a local accumulation of cholesterol and non-resolving inflammation. Atherothrombotic complications are the leading cause of disability and mortality in western countries. Neovascularization in atherosclerotic lesions plays a major role in plaque growth and instability. The angiogenic process is mediated by classical angiogenic factors and by additional factors specific to atherosclerotic angiogenesis. In addition to its role in plaque progression, neovascularization may take part in plaque destabilization and thromboembolic events. Anti-angiogenic agents are effective to reduce atherosclerosis progression in various animal models. However, clinical trials with anti-angiogenic drugs, mainly anti-VEGF/VEGFR, used in anti-cancer therapy show cardiovascular adverse effects, and require additional investigations.
Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Clinical Trials as Topic; Disease Progression; Humans; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Oxidative Stress; Plaque, Atherosclerotic
PubMed: 28212521
DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2017.01.007 -
Theranostics 2024Smooth muscle cell (SMC) remodeling poses a critical feature in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Although fate mapping and in silicon approaches have...
Smooth muscle cell (SMC) remodeling poses a critical feature in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Although fate mapping and in silicon approaches have expanded SMC phenotypes in atherosclerosis, it still remains elusive about the contributions of individual SMC phenotypes and molecular dynamics to advanced atherosclerotic plaque. Using single-cell transcriptome, we investigated cellular compositions of human carotid plaque laden with atherosclerotic core, followed by in vivo experiments utilizing SMC-lineage tracing technology, bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and both in vivo and in vitro validation of the underlying molecular mechanism. 5 functionally distinct SMC subtypes were uncovered based on transcriptional features (described as contractile, fibroblast-like, osteogenic, synthetic and macrophage-like) within the niche. A proinflammatory, macrophage-like SMC subtype displaying an intermediary phenotype between SMC and macrophage, exhibits prominent potential in destabilizing plaque. At the molecular level, we explored cluster-specific master regulons by algorithm, and identified interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF8) as a potential stimulator of SMC-to-macrophage transdifferentiation via activating nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. Our study illustrates a comprehensive cell atlas and molecular landscape of advanced atherosclerotic lesion, which might renovate current understanding of SMC biology in atherosclerosis.
Topics: Humans; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Atherosclerosis; Gene Expression Profiling; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Macrophages
PubMed: 38389849
DOI: 10.7150/thno.87201 -
Journal of Internal Medicine Nov 2015Atherosclerosis is a maladaptive, nonresolving chronic inflammatory disease that occurs at sites of blood flow disturbance. The disease usually remains silent until a... (Review)
Review
Atherosclerosis is a maladaptive, nonresolving chronic inflammatory disease that occurs at sites of blood flow disturbance. The disease usually remains silent until a breakdown of integrity at the arterial surface triggers the formation of a thrombus. By occluding the lumen, the thrombus or emboli detaching from it elicits ischaemic symptoms that may be life-threatening. Two types of surface damage can cause atherothrombosis: plaque rupture and endothelial erosion. Plaque rupture is thought to be caused by loss of mechanical stability, often due to reduced tensile strength of the collagen cap surrounding the plaque. Therefore, plaques with reduced collagen content are thought to be more vulnerable than those with a thick collagen cap. Endothelial erosion, on the other hand, may occur after injurious insults to the endothelium instigated by metabolic disturbance or immune insults. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms involved in plaque vulnerability and the development of atherothrombosis.
Topics: Animals; Cysteine Proteases; Endothelium, Vascular; Humans; Inflammation; Matrix Metalloproteinases; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Rupture, Spontaneous; Thromboembolism
PubMed: 26260307
DOI: 10.1111/joim.12406 -
Journal of Atherosclerosis and... 2015Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by the accumulation of lipids in medium to large sized arteries. Atherothrombosis is a term used to describe... (Review)
Review
Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by the accumulation of lipids in medium to large sized arteries. Atherothrombosis is a term used to describe formation of a thrombus after rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. Thrombosis can lead to myocardial infarction and stroke. Risk factors for atherosclerosis include hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking and hypertension all of which increase tissue factor (TF) expression. High levels of TF are present in atherosclerotic plaques due to expression by macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells and the presence of cell-derived TF-positive microvesicles (MVs). In addition, hyperlipidemia leads to the formation of oxidized LDL, which induces TF expression in circulating monocytes and the release of TF-positive MVs. The major source of TF that drives thrombosis after plaque rupture is TF within the plaque. However, TF in the blood on monocytes and MVs may also contribute the thrombosis. Inhibition of the TF/factor VIIa complex is unlikely to be an effective strategy to reduce atherothrombosis due the essential role of the complex in hemostasis. However, selective blockade of pathologic TF without affecting protective TF may be effective in reducing atherothrombosis. For instance, statins have been shown to reduce TF expression in the plaque and in circulating monocytes, which would be expected to reduce thrombosis. Further studies are needed to determine safe strategies to reduce pathologic TF expression and atherothrombosis.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Thromboplastin; Thrombosis
PubMed: 26016513
DOI: 10.5551/jat.30940 -
Journal of the American College of... Mar 2020
Topics: Humans; Lipids; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Stents
PubMed: 32216906
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.01.043 -
Cells Jul 2023Current clinical data show that, despite constant efforts to develop novel therapies and clinical approaches, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are still... (Review)
Review
Current clinical data show that, despite constant efforts to develop novel therapies and clinical approaches, atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Advanced and unstable atherosclerotic plaques most often trigger acute coronary events that can lead to fatal outcomes. However, despite the fact that different plaque phenotypes may require different treatments, current approaches to prognosis, diagnosis, and classification of acute coronary syndrome do not consider the diversity of plaque phenotypes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent an important class of molecules that are implicated in epigenetic control of numerous cellular processes. Here we review the latest knowledge about lncRNAs' influence on plaque development and stability through regulation of immune response, lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix remodelling, endothelial cell function, and vascular smooth muscle function, with special emphasis on pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lncRNA functions. In addition, we present current challenges in the research of lncRNAs' role in atherosclerosis and translation of the findings from animal models to humans. Finally, we present the directions for future lncRNA-oriented research, which may ultimately result in patient-oriented therapeutic strategies for ASCVD.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; RNA, Long Noncoding; Atherosclerosis; Endothelial Cells
PubMed: 37508497
DOI: 10.3390/cells12141832 -
ACS Nano Feb 2020The past several decades have brought significant advances in the application of clinical and preclinical nanoparticulate drugs in the field of cancer, but nanodrug... (Review)
Review
The past several decades have brought significant advances in the application of clinical and preclinical nanoparticulate drugs in the field of cancer, but nanodrug development in cardiovascular disease has lagged in comparison. Improved understanding of the spatiotemporal kinetics of nanoparticle delivery to atherosclerotic plaques is required to optimize preclinical nanodrug delivery and to drive their clinical translation. Mechanistic studies using super-resolution and correlative light microscopy/electron microscopy permit a broad, ultra-high-resolution picture of how endothelial barrier integrity impacts the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect for nanoparticles as a function of both atherosclerosis progression and metabolic therapy. Studies by Beldman in the December issue of suggest atherosclerotic plaque progression supports endothelial junction stabilization, which can reduce nanoparticle entry into plaques, and metabolic therapy may induce similar effects. Herein, we examine the potential for advanced dynamic intravital microscopy-based mechanistic studies of nanoparticle entry into atherosclerotic plaques to shed light on the advantages of free extravasation immune-mediated nanoparticle uptake for effective clinical translation. We further explore the potential combination of metabolic therapy with another emerging cardiovascular disease treatment paradigm-efferocytosis stimulation-to enhance atherosclerotic plaque regression.
Topics: Animals; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Particle Size; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Surface Properties
PubMed: 31986012
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c00245