Monocytes and macrophages articles within Nature Reviews Cardiology

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  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Adkar and Leeper describe the mechanisms of programmed cell death and efferocytosis, discuss how efferocytosis becomes impaired in atherosclerosis and other cardiometabolic diseases, and suggest potential strategies to target these pathways for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

    • Shaunak S. Adkar
    •  & Nicholas J. Leeper

  • Research Highlight |

    SARS-CoV-2 infects macrophages, especially lipid-laden foam cells, in coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with COVID-19; this infection initiates a strong proatherogenic inflammatory response, which might contribute to the ischaemic cardiovascular complications in these patients.

    • Gregory B. Lim

  • Research Highlight |

    A new study reveals that the disrupted sleep patterns that are frequently observed in patients with cardiac disease are driven by immune-mediated sympathetic denervation and dysfunction of the pineal gland, which leads to a decrease in the circulating levels of melatonin and subsequent sleep disruption.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Riksen and colleagues discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of trained immunity, the activation of these mechanisms by cardiovascular risk factors, and how trained immunity might contribute to atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The authors also propose potential strategies for the therapeutic modulation of trained immunity in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

    • Niels P. Riksen
    • , Siroon Bekkering
    •  & Mihai G. Netea

  • Clinical Outlook |

    Contemporary tools to predict cardiovascular risk lack accuracy on an individual-patient level. The use of single-cell RNA sequencing to identify specific leukocyte patterns might overcome some of these limitations, propelling us towards a precision medicine approach.

    • Johannes Gollmer
    •  & Andreas Zirlik

  • Comment |

    Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is defined as an expansion of mutant blood stem cells in individuals without haematological malignancies. CHIP is linked to an increased risk of non-cancerous disorders such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, possibly because mutant innate immune cells have pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether individuals with CHIP might benefit from anti-inflammatory therapies.

    • Herra Ahmad
    •  & Siddhartha Jaiswal

  • Research Highlight |

    A subpopulation of cardiac-resident macrophages protect the heart against sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy by scavenging dysfunctional mitochondria ejected from cardiomyocytes; modulation or administration of these macrophages might be a potential therapeutic strategy.

    • Gregory B. Lim

  • Review Article |

    Macrophages are one of the most active cell types during all stages after myocardial infarction. In this Review, Boisvert and co-workers describe the populations of cardiac macrophage involved in myocardial infarction, their cardioprotective functions and their interactions with other cardiac cell types. The authors also explore potential therapeutic approaches to target macrophage-mediated inflammation in myocardial infarction.

    • Jonathan Yap
    • , Jason Irei
    •  & William A. Boisvert

  • Research Highlight |

    A new study has identified a scavenger receptor-independent mechanism of atherosclerosis development by showing that LDL uptake through macropinocytosis contributes to macrophage foam cell formation and atherosclerosis development and that an FDA-approved drug that inhibits macropinocytosis inhibits atherosclerosis development in mice.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Research Highlight |

    Statins increase the rate of macrophage efferocytosis through suppression of the expression of the ‘don’t-eat-me’ molecule CD47 on atherosclerotic plaque apoptotic cells, and pro-efferocytic therapies amplify the anti-atherosclerotic effects of statin treatment in an additive manner and independently of any lipid-lowering effects of statins.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Research Highlight |

    A new study shows that anti-IL-1β treatment and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition ameliorate vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis progression by two mechanisms: a reduction in blood inflammatory leukocyte supply and a decrease in inflammatory leukocyte uptake into atherosclerotic lesions.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Research Highlight |

    A new study now shows that basophils can influence cardiac remodelling after myocardial infarction. Despite their low number in the injured myocardium, basophils strongly affected other immune cells involved in cardiac repair and remodelling in mice, promoting cardiac healing by facilitating the polarization of reparative macrophages.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Research Highlight |

    The CD200 inhibitory immune checkpoint promotes arterial homeostasis and reduces atherosclerotic plaque progression and inflammation in mice by limiting the excessive supply, recruitment and activation of monocytes and macrophages during atherogenesis, according to a new study.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Research Highlight |

    In ischaemic tissues, macrophages accumulate in the perivascular region and regulate blood flow by releasing nitric oxide derived from inducible nitric oxide synthase, thereby increasing muscle perfusion and improving limb function.

    • Gregory B. Lim

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Nahrendorf and colleagues discuss the electrophysiological properties of leukocytes and how these cells relate to conduction in the heart, aiming to bridge the knowledge gap between electrophysiology and immunology and to explore the roles of leukocytes in cardiac conduction and arrhythmia.

    • Jana Grune
    • , Masahiro Yamazoe
    •  & Matthias Nahrendorf

  • Research Highlight |

    A network of macrophages in the heart supports cardiac health and function by removing dysfunctional mitochondria and waste material released from cardiomyocytes in subcellular particles called exophers.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Research Highlight |

    A new study shows that regulatory T cells have essential roles in atherosclerotic plaque regression by promoting the resolution of plaque inflammation through suppression of macrophage and T cell pro-inflammatory responses and induction of a pro-resolving macrophage phenotype.

    • Irene Fernández-Ruiz

  • Review Article |

    This Review summarizes the role of transcription factors and epigenetic remodelling in modulating macrophage plasticity, provides an overview of the cooperative action of transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers controlling macrophage activation in the context of atherosclerosis and inflammation, and highlights the therapeutic potential of modulating transcription factor activity.

    • Tatyana Kuznetsova
    • , Koen H. M. Prange
    •  & Menno P. J. de Winther

  • Review Article |

    Atherosclerosis is characterized by low-grade, chronic inflammation, and the balance between pro-inflammatory and inflammation-resolving mechanisms dictates the clinical outcomes. This Review discusses the specific causes of inflammation and the mechanisms underlying the impaired resolution of inflammation that characterize clinically dangerous atherosclerotic lesions and highlights the potential of pro-resolving mediator therapy for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

    • Magnus Bäck
    • , Arif Yurdagul Jr
    •  & Petri T. Kovanen

  • News & Views |

    Accumulation of foam cells — macrophages with intracellular lipid droplets — in arterial walls is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Bernelot Moens and colleagues report increases in circulating monocytes with intracellular lipid accumulation, associated CCR2 expression, and enhanced monocyte migration in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia. These changes could be reversed by PCSK9-inhibitor treatment.

    • Huaizhu Wu
    •  & Christie M. Ballantyne

  • Review Article |

    Inflammatory processes have a crucial role in abdominal aortic aneurysm and aortic wall remodelling. This Review focuses on the involvement of monocytes and macrophages, summarizing current knowledge on their origin and the roles of distinct monocyte and macrophage subsets in AAA development and complications, and highlighting potential translational applications targeting monocytes and macrophages.

    • Juliette Raffort
    • , Fabien Lareyre
    •  & Ziad Mallat

  • Review Article |

    Accumulating evidence has challenged the dogma of monocytes as short-lived macrophage precursors. Monocyte populations are heterogeneous and have subset-specific functions. This Review provides an updated view of the role of monocytes in cardiovascular disease and their relationship with macrophages, highlighting current theories on monocyte ontogeny, and discussing the effects of dyslipidaemia on monocyte production, phenotype, and function.

    • Mohammed Shamim Rahman
    • , Andrew J. Murphy
    •  & Kevin J. Woollard

  • Review Article |

    Plaque macrophages account for the majority of leukocytes in atherosclerotic plaques, and are believed to differentiate from monocytes recruited from circulating blood. In this Review, Dr Woollard and Dr Geissmann discuss the heterogenous population of monocytes involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

    • Kevin J. Woollard
    •  & Frederic Geissmann

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