Accumulation of foam cells — macrophages with intracellular lipid droplets — in arterial walls is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Bernelot Moens and colleagues report increases in circulating monocytes with intracellular lipid accumulation, associated CCR2 expression, and enhanced monocyte migration in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia. These changes could be reversed by PCSK9-inhibitor treatment.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are supported by NIH grant R01 HL098839, AHA award AHA16GRNT30410012, and American Diabetes Association award 1-17-IBS-082. We thank Zeqin Lian (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA) for helpful input, and Kerrie Jara (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA) for editorial assistance.
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C.M.B. has received grant/research support from and is a consultant for Amgen, Regeneron, and Sanofi-Synthelabo. H.W. declares no competing interests.
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Wu, H., Ballantyne, C. PCSK9 inhibitors and foamy monocytes in familial hypercholesterolaemia. Nat Rev Cardiol 14, 385–386 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2017.75
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2017.75
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