The Role of Efferocytosis in Atherosclerosis CIRCULATION Kojima, Y., Weissman, I. L., Leeper, N. J. 2017; 135 (5): 476-489

Abstract

The necrotic core has long been a hallmark of the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. Although apoptotic cells are cleared quickly in almost all other tissue beds, their removal appears to be significantly impaired in the diseased blood vessel. Emerging evidence indicates that this phenomenon is caused by a defect in efferocytosis, the process by which apoptotic tissue is recognized for engulfment by phagocytic cells such as macrophages. Genetic and experimental data suggest that efferocytosis is impaired during atherogenesis caused by dysregulation of so-called eat me ligands, which govern the edibility of cells undergoing programmed cell death. The following is a summary of recent data indicating that efferocytosis is a major unappreciated driver of lesion expansion but also a reversible defect that can potentially be targeted as a means to prevent plaque progression.

View details for DOI 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.025684

View details for Web of Science ID 000393716200009

View details for PubMedID 28137963

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5302553