Submitted on May 5, 2005
Revised on June 13, 2005
Accepted on June 17, 2005
Cytokine regulation of macrophage functions in atherogenesis
Alan Daugherty, Nancy R. Webb, Debra L. Rateri, and Victoria K. King
Medicine Dept., University of Kentucky, lexington, KY 40536-0200
Corresponding Author: alan.daugherty{at}uky.edu
This review will focus on the role of cytokines in the behavior of macrophages; a prominent cell type of atherosclerotic lesions. Once these macrophages have immigrated into the vessel wall, they propagate the development of atherosclerosis through modifying lipoproteins, accumulating intracellular lipids, remodeling the extracellular environment, and promoting local coagulation. The numerous cytokines that have been detected in atherosclerosis, combined with the expression of large numbers of cytokine receptors on macrophages, is consistent with this axis being an important contributor to lesion development. Given the vast literature on cytokinemacrophage interactions, this review will be selective, with an emphasis on the major cytokines that have been detected in atherosclerotic lesions and their effects on properties that are relevant to lesion formation and maturation. There will be an emphasis on the role of cytokines in regulating lipid metabolism by macrophages. We will provide an overview of the major findings in cell culture and then put these in the context of in vivo studies.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
