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Thromb Haemost 2007; 97(05): 714-721
DOI: 10.1160/TH07-01-0036
Theme Issue Article
Schattauer GmbH

The specific role of chemokines in atherosclerosis

Vincent Braunersreuther
1   Division of Cardiology, Foundation for Medical Researches, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
,
François Mach
1   Division of Cardiology, Foundation for Medical Researches, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
,
Sabine Steffens
1   Division of Cardiology, Foundation for Medical Researches, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
› Author AffiliationsFinancial support: This work was supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation to Dr. Mach. The authors belong to the European Vascular Genomics Network (http://www.evgn.org) a Network of Excellence supported by the European C
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Publication History

Received 19 January 2007

Accepted after revision 21 February 2007

Publication Date:
24 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that represents the primary cause of heart disease and stroke.The recruitment of inflammatory cells in the intima is an essential step in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.This process is triggered by local production of chemokines and chemokine receptors from activated endothelial cells and inflammatory cells. Various members of the CC chemokine family (e.g. MCP- 1/CCL2) as well as CXC family (e.g. IL-8/CCL8, IP-10/CXCL10, SDF-1/CXCL12) and, more recently, fractalkine/CX3CL1 have been implicated in atherosclerosis development. Latest findings in animal models suggest that blocking chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions may serve as a suitable approach to treat atherosclerosis. Likewise, chemokine antagonists that inhibit leukocyte recruitment could particularly be interesting to treat inflammation in response to myocardial infarction, the major consequence of atherosclerosis.

Keywords

Atherosclerosis - chemokines - inflammation - leukocyte recruitment - myocardial infarction
 

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