Fibroblasts in atherosclerosis:heterogeneous and plastic participants

Purpose of review Fibroblasts are very heterogeneous and plastic cells in the vasculature. A growing interest in fibroblasts in healthy and atherosclerotic vasculature is observed, next to macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). In this review, we discuss fibroblast presence, heterogeneity, origin, and plasticity in health and atherosclerosis based on latest literature. Recent findings With help of single cell sequencing (SCS) techniques, we have gained more insight into presence and functions of fibroblasts in atherosclerosis. Next to SMCs, fibroblasts are extracellular matrix-producing cells abundant in the vasculature and involved in atherogenesis. Fibroblasts encompass a heterogeneous population and SCS data reveal several fibroblast clusters in healthy and atherosclerotic tissue with varying gene expression and function. Moreover, recent findings indicate interesting similarities between adventitial stem and/or progenitor cells and fibroblasts. Also, communication with inflammatory cells opens up a new therapeutic avenue. Because of their highly plastic and heterogeneous nature, modulating fibroblast cell function and communication in the atherosclerotic vessel might be useful in battling atherosclerosis from within the plaque

Fibroblasts in atherosclerosis: heterogeneous and plastic participants

Purpose of review Fibroblasts are very heterogeneous and plastic cells in the vasculature. A growing interest in fibroblasts in healthy and atherosclerotic vasculature is observed, next to macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). In this review, we discuss fibroblast presence, heterogeneity, origin, and plasticity in health and atherosclerosis based on latest literature. Recent findings With help of single cell sequencing (SCS) techniques, we have gained more insight into presence and functions of fibroblasts in atherosclerosis. Next to SMCs, fibroblasts are extracellular matrix-producing cells abundant in the vasculature and involved in atherogenesis. Fibroblasts encompass a heterogeneous population and SCS data reveal several fibroblast clusters in healthy and atherosclerotic tissue with varying gene expression and function. Moreover, recent findings indicate interesting similarities between adventitial stem and/or progenitor cells and fibroblasts. Also, communication with inflammatory cells opens up a new therapeutic avenue. Because of their highly plastic and heterogeneous nature, modulating fibroblast cell function and communication in the atherosclerotic vessel might be useful in battling atherosclerosis from within the plaque

A Switch from Cell-Associated to Soluble PDGF-B Protects against Atherosclerosis, despite Driving Extramedullary Hematopoiesis

Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) is a mitogenic, migratory and survival factor. Cell-associated PDGF-B recruits stabilizing pericytes towards blood vessels through retention in extracellular matrix. We hypothesized that the genetic ablation of cell-associated PDGF-B by retention motif deletion would reduce the local availability of PDGF-B, resulting in microvascular pericyte loss, microvascular permeability and exacerbated atherosclerosis. Therefore, Ldlr(-/-)Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) mice were fed a high cholesterol diet. Although plaque size was increased in the aortic root of Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) mice, microvessel density and intraplaque hemorrhage were unexpectedly unaffected. Plaque macrophage content was reduced, which is likely attributable to increased apoptosis, as judged by increased TUNEL+ cells in Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) plaques (2.1-fold) and increased Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) macrophage apoptosis upon 7-ketocholesterol or oxidized LDL incubation in vitro. Moreover, Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) plaque collagen content increased independent of mesenchymal cell density. The decreased macrophage matrix metalloproteinase activity could partly explain Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) collagen content. In addition to the beneficial vascular effects, we observed reduced body weight gain related to smaller fat deposition in Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) liver and adipose tissue. While dampening plaque inflammation, Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) paradoxically induced systemic leukocytosis. The increased incorporation of 5-ethynyl-2 '-deoxyuridine indicated increased extramedullary hematopoiesis and the increased proliferation of circulating leukocytes. We concluded that Pdgfb(ret)(/ret) confers vascular and metabolic effects, which appeared to be protective against diet-induced cardiovascular burden. These effects were unrelated to arterial mesenchymal cell content or adventitial microvessel density and leakage. In contrast, the deletion drives splenic hematopoiesis and subsequent leukocytosis in hypercholesterolemia