Apoptosis and efferocytosis in atherosclerosis plaques / 基础医学与临床

Apoptosis is an important feature of atherosclerotic plaques, and it has both beneficial and detrimental effects depending on the cell type and plaque stage.Since apoptotic cells in advanced plaques launch proatherogenic inflammatory responses,efferocytosis is available to withstand atherosclerosis progression. Several efferocytosis sys-tems,composed of different phagocytic receptors,apoptotic ligands,and bridging molecules,can be identified.Im-paired efferocytosis pathway causes an overdue clearance of apoptotic cells and promotes secondary necrosis and the formation of necrotic core which leads to the instability and even rupture of plaques.