巨噬细胞在动脉粥样硬化发病机制中作用的研究进展

Research progress in the mechanism of macrophages in atherosclerosis

动脉粥样硬化(AS)目前被医学研究界公认为是一种慢性炎症反应,其发生发展过程中,巨噬细胞发挥着重要的作用。巨噬细胞可以吞噬性炎症细胞,填充AS损伤部位,积极参与胆固醇堆积,还可通过维持促炎微环境促进复杂和不稳定斑块的形成;在另一方面,抗炎巨噬细胞有助于组织修复重塑和斑块稳定。因此,对巨噬细胞作用的研究可能成为抗AS治疗的突破口,以减少单核细胞向损伤部位募集,抑制促炎性巨噬细胞活性,刺激胆固醇流出以及减少脂质储存。针对目前存在的问题,仍需更多深入的研究来创建不同巨噬细胞表型综合分类,并确定其在AS的发病机制中的作用。本文列举和简略介绍了巨噬细胞在AS过程中表现出的多样性和活化性,期待为今后有关巨噬细胞的AS研究提供参考。

Atherosclerosis （AS） is thought to be a chronic inflammatory response, in which macrophages play an important role. Macrophages can engulf inflammatory ceils and fill the site of atherosclerotic lesions, which also can actively participate in cholesterol accumulation. They can also promote the formation of complex and unstable plaques. Meanwhile antiinflammatory macrophages contribute to tissue repair remodeling and plaque stabilization. Therefore, the mechanism of macrophage research may be a breakthrough in the treatment of atherosclerosis, so as to reduce the accumulation of mononuclear cells to the injured site, inhibit the activity of proinflammatory macrophages, promote cholesterol outflow, and reduce lipid storage. More in-depth studies are still needed to create a comprehensive classification of phenotypes for different macrophages and to determine their roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this paper, we discuss the diversity and activation of the macrophages in the process of atherosclerosis and provide a reference for the study of atherosclerosis based on macrophages.