Chapter category: Atherosclerosis
Cytokines and Growth Factors in Receptor–Mediated Signaling
Edited by: Ming K. Heng
ISBN:
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Chapter authors:
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Smooth muscle cells constitute up to 60–80% of the cellular population within the arterial intima in atherosclerotic plaques and restenotic lesions (Schwartz and Reidy 1987; Khochi et al, 1987). Of these, a proportion of the intimal smooth muscle cells are composed of cells recently migrated from the media, while the rest are generated from proliferation of migrated smooth muscle cells. In advanced atherosclerotic plaques, apoptosis is observed, resulting in a decrease in the smooth muscle cell population (Geng and Libby 1995). Cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis are manifestations of altered vascular smooth muscle cell function in atherogenesis, and are a reflection of altered target cell function regulated by polypeptide growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines in atherosclerotic arteries. Cytokines and growth factors exert their effects by binding to specific cell surface receptors on target cells, resulting in receptor activation and triggering of intracellular signaling pathways, leading eventually to transcriptional activation and expression of a variety of molecules which affect target cell function. Although we focus on vascular smooth muscle cells as the target for cytokine–induced signaling, the mechanisms involved in cytokine/growth factor–receptor mediated signaling pathways in atherosclerotic arteries also apply to other target cells, such as endothelial cells and fibroblasts. This Chapter reviews the different types of growth factor and cytokine receptors, and their mechanisms of activation. In addition, it reviews the signaling pathways triggered by cytokine and growth factor induced receptor signaling, with particular emphasis on signaling pathways relating to cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis involving vascular smooth muscle cells in atherogenesis.
Additional chapters from this book:
Mechanisms of T Lymphocyte Activation: Role in Atherogenesis
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Activated T lymphocytes are believed to play regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Significant numbers of activated T lymphocytes, colocalized with macrophages, are present ...
Antigen Recognition by gd T–Cells:
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Activated T lymphocytes are an integral part of atherosclerotic plaques, and recent observations suggest that they play a role in the inflammatory response in atherogenesis (Gown et...
Antigen Recognition by gd T–Cells:
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Activated T lymphocytes are an integral part of atherosclerotic plaques, and recent observations suggest that they play a role in the inflammatory response in atherogenesis (Gown et...
Mechanisms of T Lymphocyte Activation: Role in Atherogenesis
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Activated T lymphocytes are believed to play regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Significant numbers of activated T lymphocytes, colocalized with macrophages, are present ...
The Activated Macrophage: Role in Atherogenesis
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Macrophages are found in lesions of atherosclerosis at all stages of lesion development, where they are best known for their ability to accumulate lipids, forming foam cells in atherosclerotic...
Homing Mechanisms of Lymphocytes: Role of Adhesion Molecules and
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
The recruitment of activatedTlymphocytes in early lesions of atherosclerosis supports the concept that these cells are involved in atherogenesis (Tsukada et al, 1986; Munro et al 1987; Xu et a...
Cytokine Activated Target Cells in Atherogenesis: The Vascular
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells is an integral component of the thickened intima in atherosclerotic and restenotic arteries (Schwartz and Ross, 1984; Gordon et al, 1990; O'Brien ...
Cytokine–Activated Target Cells in Atherogenesis: The Endothelial
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Cell–mediated immunity involving activated lymphocytes and macrophages is believed to play a significant role in atherogenesis. A variety of cytokines secreted by both activated lymphocyt...
Cytokines and Growth Factors in Receptor–Mediated Signaling
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Smooth muscle cells constitute up to 60–80% of the cellular population within the arterial intima in atherosclerotic plaques and restenotic lesions (Schwartz and Reidy 1987; Khochi et al,...
Immune Mechanisms in Acute Coronary Ischemic Syndromes
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
In recent years, the concept that atherosclerosis has many patho–physiologic characteristics of a chronic inflammatory process has lead to a reappraisal of the mechanisms of the acute cor...
Evidence for Immune Involvement in Atherogenesis
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Much of the evidence for the hypothesis that atherogenesis represents an inflammatory response to arterial injury was derived from pathologic and recently, immunohistochemical, studies. It has...
Basic Concepts in Atherogenesis, Immunology and Wound Repair
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Although understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanismsof atherogenesis has greatly accelerated over the last decade, surprising modern concepts of its basic pathophysiology have exist...
