This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 27/11/2292    most recent ATVBAHA.107.149179v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Galkina, E. Articles by Ley, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Galkina, E. Articles by Ley, K.

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2007;27:2292.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Brief Reviews

Vascular Adhesion Molecules in Atherosclerosis

Elena Galkina; Klaus Ley

From the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Va.

Correspondence to Klaus Ley, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 801394, Charlottesville, VA 22908. E-mail klausley{at}virginia.edu

Series Editor: Dietmar Vestweber Previous Brief Reviews in this Series:

•van Buul JD, Kanters E, and Hordijk PL. Endothelial signaling by Ig-like cell adhesion molecules. Atheroscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2007;27:1870–1876.
•Bradfield PF, Nourshargh S, Aurrand-Lions M, Imhof BA. JAM family and related proteins in leukocyte migration. Atheroscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2007;27:2104–2112.

Numerous reports document the role of vascular adhesion molecules in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Recent novel findings in the field of adhesion molecules require an updated summary of current research. In this review, we highlight the role of vascular adhesion molecules including selectins, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, intercellular adhesion molecule1 (ICAM-1), PECAM-1, JAMs, and connexins in atherosclerosis. The immune system is important in atherosclerosis, and significant efforts are under way to understand the vascular adhesion molecule–dependent mechanisms of immune cell trafficking into healthy and atherosclerosis-prone arterial walls. This review focuses on the role of vascular adhesion molecules in the regulation of immune cell homing during atherosclerosis and discusses future directions that will lead to better understanding of this disease.

Leukocyte and endothelial adhesion molecules play key roles in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. In animal models, blocking or eliminating P-selectin, VCAM-1 or ₄β₁ integrin reduces atherosclerotic lesion formation by more than 50%. Smaller effects are seen by manipulating E-selectin, ICAM-1 or the JAM family of adhesion molecules.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • pathophysiology • lymphocyte • leukocyte • monocyte • macrophages • trafficking

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Orasanu, O. Ziouzenkova, P. R. Devchand, V. Nehra, O. Hamdy, E. S. Horton, and J. Plutzky The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-{gamma} Agonist Pioglitazone Represses Inflammation in a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-{alpha}-Dependent Manner In Vitro and In Vivo in Mice J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 2, 2008; (2008) j.jacc.2008.04.055v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Mansouri, E. Bauge, B. Staels, and P. Gervois Systemic and Distal Repercussions of Liver-Specific Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-{alpha} Control of the Acute-Phase Response Endocrinology, June 1, 2008; 149(6): 3215 - 3223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Hettema, H. Bootsma, and C. G. M. Kallenberg Macrovascular disease and atherosclerosis in SSc Rheumatology, May 1, 2008; 47(5): 578 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Montecucco, F. Burger, F. Mach, and S. Steffens CB2 cannabinoid receptor agonist JWH-015 modulates human monocyte migration through defined intracellular signaling pathways Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2008; 294(3): H1145 - H1155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]