Human monocyte-derived macrophages: Pathogenetic role in plaque rupture associated to systemic inflammation
Int J Cardiol
Macrophages play a key role in coronary plaque destabilization. In-vitro human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) are used to study macrophages infiltrating tissue. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides an in-vivo insight of the coronary arteries.
The Authors of this study compared the MDMs morpho-phenotype and culprit plaque features at OCT in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients according to the underlying plaque pathobiology.
According to the results, the monocyte-derived macrophages of ACS patients show morpho-phenotypic heterogeneity with prevalence of pro-thrombotic and pro-oxidative properties in case of plaque rupture and systemic inflammation. Such MDMs subpopulation may take part to the cellular pathways leading to fibrous cap rupture with the subsequent thrombus formation.