Monocytes Contribute to the Atherosclerotic Cap by Transformation Into Fibrocytes

Lineage of Bone Marrow–Derived Cells in Atherosclerosis

“…113 In atherosclerotic lesions, fibrocytes expressing procollagen I and CD34 have been identified in the fibrous cap of human atherosclerotic lesions. 114 Subendothelial SMα-actin-positive myofibroblasts expressing the monocyte marker CD68 have been found in lipid-rich areas of the atherosclerotic intima in human aorta. 115 One of the subsets of monocytes that are preferentially recruited to sites of atherosclerosis is the inflammatory subset of CD14 + CD16 − MNCs expressing CCR2, 116,117 suggesting that the CD14 + CD16 − CCR2 + subpopulation may be involved in atherogenesis and may contain precursors of fibrocytes that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.…”

Fibrocytes represent a novel MDSC subset circulating in patients with metastatic cancer

“…Fibrocytes are rare in healthy hosts but expand in conditions associated with macrophage-driven inflammation and fibroblast activation. [17][18][19][20] Current concepts hold that fibrocytes mediate proinflammatory effects via their macrophagelike properties, as well as tissue remodeling effects because of their capacity to produce extracellular matrix proteins. [21][22][23] Fibrocytes are also reported to function as antigen-presenting cells, consistent with their expression of MHC class II and CD80/86 and their capacity to secrete a multitude of cytokines.…”

Fibrocytes: potential new therapeutic targets for pulmonary hypertension?

“…In the systemic circulation, fibrocytes have been identified in the fibrous cap of human atherosclerotic lesions [20,21]. Further, one of the subsets of monocytes that are preferentially recruited into the arterial wall during experimentally induced arteriosclerosis in mice represents the murine counterpart of the human inflammatory subset of CD14+/CD16-mononuclear cells that express the CC chemokine ligand (CCL) 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 receptor CCR2 [22].…”