The accumulation of macrophages (red) in arterial plaques (top) is reduced by inactivating the IL-6 receptor gp130 (bottom).
Plaques are a consequence of high dietary cholesterol, which gloms onto arterial walls. Macrophages ingest the fat, die, and further harden the area into plaque. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, is associated with high levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6. Liver cells activated by these cytokines release “acute phase” proteins (APPs), which are markers of heart disease.
When released during an immune response, however, APPs have an immediate benefit. They trigger the complement cascade and recruit macrophages to the inflamed areas. These events help...
The Rockefeller University Press
2007
The Rockefeller University Press
2007
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