A Review of Macrophage Diversity and Immune Checkpoint Regulation in Atherosclerosis: Insights from Single-Cell Transcriptomes

Purpose of Review: In this research, the idea of ​​single cell transcription was used to describe atherosclerotic plaque macrophages. Recent Findings: The results of the single-cell studies provided detailed data on the transcriptional and phenotypic diversity of macrophages in plaques. Macrophages are regulated by a variety of factors, including cell interactions, oxygen levels, nutrients, metabolites or other soluble signals, and (combination or alteration of) the extracellular matrix. These signals can influence macrophage selection and survival, as well as differentiation and polarization. In addition, macrophages in these plaques were replaced by activated phenotypes containing subsets associated with plaque vulnerability. Summary: Atherosclerosis is due to the multifaceted contribution of the immune system to the traffic and vascular homes. However, the specific properties of altered immune cells in atherosclerotic lesions that lead to clinical events such as ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction are not well-defined. Therefore, our approach provides a powerful tool to help study the underlying mechanisms of human diseases and discover novel pharmacological approaches for therapeutic interventions.