The many faces of CD8+ T cells in atherosclerosis
Purpose of review
Atherosclerosis and the clinical consequence of cardiovascular disease remain the leading cause of death worldwide. Both an increase in cholesterol levels, as well as immune responses drive the pathogenesis of this disease. Although much is known about the role of many immune cell subsets in atherogenesis, research into the role of CD8+ T cells is limited.
Recent findings
Both atheroprotective and atherogenic functions of CD8+ T cells have been reported. On the one hand, the inflammatory cytokines produced by CD8+ T cells exacerbate inflammatory responses, and the cytotoxic activity of these cells to...
Source: Current Opinion in Lipidology - August 31, 2018 Category: Lipidology Tags: ATHEROSCLEROSIS: CELL BIOLOGY AND LIPOPROTEINS: Edited by Mohamad Navab and Menno de Winther Source Type: research
Sex differences in metabolism and cardiometabolic disorders
Purpose of review
Sex differences are pervasive in metabolic and cardiovascular traits, yet they have often been ignored in human and animal model research. Sex differences can arise from reversible hormonal effects, from irreversible organizational (developmental) processes, and from gene expression differences from the X and Y chromosomes. We briefly review our current understanding of the impact of these factors in metabolic traits and disorders, with an emphasis on the recent literature.
Recent findings
Novel sex differences continue to be identified for metabolic and cardiovascular traits. For example, it is now ...
Source: Current Opinion in Lipidology - August 31, 2018 Category: Lipidology Tags: ATHEROSCLEROSIS: CELL BIOLOGY AND LIPOPROTEINS: Edited by Mohamad Navab and Menno de Winther Source Type: research
Fibroblast growth factor–transforming growth factor beta dialogues, endothelial cell to mesenchymal transition, and atherosclerosis
Purpose of review
Despite much effort, atherosclerosis remains an important public health problem, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. The purpose of this review is to provide an understanding of the role of endothelial cell fate change in atherosclerosis process.
Recent findings
Recent studies indicate that a process known as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) may play an important role in atherosclerosis development. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) has been shown to be an important driver of the endothelial cell phenotype transition.
Summary
The current review deals with t...
Source: Current Opinion in Lipidology - August 31, 2018 Category: Lipidology Tags: ATHEROSCLEROSIS: CELL BIOLOGY AND LIPOPROTEINS: Edited by Mohamad Navab and Menno de Winther Source Type: research
Atherosclerosis in the single-cell era
Purpose of review
The immune system plays a critical role in the development and modulation of atherosclerosis. New high-parameter technologies, including mass cytometry (CyTOF) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq), allow for an encompassing analysis of immune cells. Unexplored marker combinations and transcriptomes can define new immune cell subsets and suggest their functions. Here, we review recent advances describing the immune cells in the artery wall of mice with and without atherosclerosis. We compare technologies and discuss limitations and advantages.
Recent findings
Both CyTOF and scRNAseq on leukocytes...
Source: Current Opinion in Lipidology - August 31, 2018 Category: Lipidology Tags: ATHEROSCLEROSIS: CELL BIOLOGY AND LIPOPROTEINS: Edited by Mohamad Navab and Menno de Winther Source Type: research
Cardiovascular oncology: exploring the effects of targeted cancer therapies on atherosclerosis
Purpose of review
Targeted cancer therapies have revolutionized the treatment of cancer in the past decade, but cardiovascular toxicity is a rising problem in cancer patients. Here we discuss the effects of targeted cancer therapies on atherosclerosis. Increasing the awareness of these adverse effects will promote the development of evidence-based preventive strategies in the emerging field of cardiovascular oncology.
Recent findings
Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, immunomodulatory imide drugs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors are successfully used as treatment for many types ...
Source: Current Opinion in Lipidology - August 31, 2018 Category: Lipidology Tags: ATHEROSCLEROSIS: CELL BIOLOGY AND LIPOPROTEINS: Edited by Mohamad Navab and Menno de Winther Source Type: research
