Complement-Producing Macrophages in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is, fundamentally, a condition centered around the function, capabilities, and age-related dysfunction of macrophage cells. These innate immune cells are responsible for clearing excess cholesterol, transported via LDL particles, from blood vessel walls. As macrophages become more dysfunctional with age, or otherwise shift in their activities due to rising inflammatory signaling, deposits of cholesterol can reach a tipping point at which they can no longer be cleared and turn into atherosclerotic lesions. Macrophages in the lesions are overwhelmed by the excess of cholesterol, become inflammatory, and die, adding their mass to the growing lesion while also calling in more macrophages to suffer the same fate. Researchers have identified a specific subtype of complement-producing macrophages that are present in both mouse as well as human atherosclerotic plaques. The complement system is a family of blood-borne proteins with crucial importance in host defense from pathogens. In addition, complement exerts critical housekeeping functions by aiding the removal of damaged and dying cells by macrophages. Part of the complement is continuously active by the generation of cleavage products of the central component C3 - a process that is highly regulated by CFH. Complement activation has long been implicated in human atherosclerosis - however, the pathologic importance of cellular versus systemic complement activation in lesion progression has not been appreci...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs