Abstract：
Atherosclerosis is commonly known as an inflammatory disease that is characterized by lipid deposition in the arterial wall, causing gradual restriction or complete blockade of blood flow, which can cause complications such as myocardial infarction, stroke, or peripheral artery disease. Several factors contribute to initiation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque formation. The role of macrophages and leukocytes in atherosclerosis have been well explored. Here, we provide an overview of what has been reported on the role and impact of the arterial cells on plaque formation, and vice versa. The atherogenic environment can trigger transformation and dedifferentiation of the endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts whereby they can either directly contribute to plaque formation, or influence its composition. Recent studies have demonstrated the plasticity in the identity of the arterial cells, formation of intermediate cell types that share the characteristics of multiple cell types, and have revealed novel roles and functions for these cells in atherosclerosis. The potential for all vascular cells to cross-transdifferentiate, and detection of cells with mosaic characteristics in the atherosclerotic plaques reveal that the plaque environment is a complex and dynamic environment that could regulate the disease progression independent from the circulating lipid levels. We will also provide an overview on the interplay between sex and atherosclerosis, which has remained an underexplored area.
摘要：
动脉粥样硬化通常被称为一种炎症性疾病，其特征是脂质在动脉壁中沉积，导致血流逐渐受限或完全阻断，会导致心肌梗塞等并发症，中风,或外周动脉疾病。几个因素有助于动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的开始和进展。巨噬细胞和白细胞在动脉粥样硬化中的作用已被充分探索。这里,我们概述了动脉细胞对斑块形成的作用和影响。反之亦然。动脉粥样硬化环境可引发内皮细胞的转化和去分化,平滑肌细胞，和成纤维细胞，它们可以直接促进斑块形成，或影响其组成。最近的研究证明了动脉细胞身份的可塑性，形成具有多种细胞类型特征的中间细胞类型，并揭示了这些细胞在动脉粥样硬化中的新作用和功能。所有血管细胞交叉转分化的可能性，对动脉粥样硬化斑块中具有镶嵌特征的细胞的检测表明，斑块环境是一个复杂而动态的环境，可以独立于循环脂质水平来调节疾病的进展。我们还将提供性别与动脉粥样硬化之间相互作用的概述，这仍然是一个开发不足的地区。
