Macrophage polarization by the microenvironment of atherosclerotic plaques

Macrophages are key cellular mediators of innate immunity: they are positionally and transcriptionally programmed to respond to pathogens and environmental challenges. When activated by inflammatory signals in their microenvironment they develop into functionally and phenotypically distinct polarized subpopulations: classically activated macrophages, M1, characterized by cytotoxix/proinflammatory activity; alternatively activated macrophages,...