细胞凋亡和有效吞噬在动脉粥样硬化斑块中的作用

Apoptosis and efferocytosis in atherosclerosis plaques

细胞凋亡是动脉粥样硬化斑块的重要特征,其利害作用取决于斑块内凋亡细胞的种类和斑块所处阶段。进展期斑块内细胞凋亡可加剧炎性反应,而有效吞噬可抑制斑块进展。多种有效吞噬系统可根据吞噬受体、凋亡配体及桥联分子加以区别。有效吞噬系统障碍可使凋亡细胞无法及时清除,引发继发性坏死,促进斑块坏死核心形成,继而导致斑块不稳定甚至破裂。

Apoptosis is an important feature of atherosclerotic plaques,and it has both beneficial and detrimental effects depending on the cell type and plaque stage.Since apoptotic cells in advanced plaques launch proatherogenic inflammatory responses,efferocytosis is available to withstand atherosclerosis progression.Several efferocytosis systems,composed of different phagocytic receptors,apoptotic ligands,and bridging molecules,can be identified.Impaired efferocytosis pathway causes an overdue clearance of apoptotic cells and promotes secondary necrosis and the formation of necrotic core which leads to the instability and even rupture of plaques.