Primate Monocytes - CD14, CD16 - Ziegler-Heitbrock

Novel Features of Monocytes and Macrophages in Cardiovascular Biology and Disease.

Abstract

Monocytes and macrophages are both heterogeneous cell-types that play an important role in a variety of diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases.1 Only during the past years, several classifications of distinct monocyte/ macrophage subsets have emerged, and their various specific functions have been further elucidated, such as effects of macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) or intraplaque macrophage proliferation and motility. Here, we review recent and eminent original work in the area of monocyte and macrophage research, emphasizing some studies published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology during the past 2 years. Monocytes are a very heterogeneous population, and over the years more specialized subsets have been described with unique markers.2 In humans, monocytes can be roughly divided into classical (CD14highCD16−), nonclassical (CD14lowCD16high), and intermediate (CD14highCD16high) phenotypes.3 Using mass cytometry (CyTOF), Thomas et al5 identified CCR2 (CC chemokine receptor 2), CD36, HLA-DR (human leukocyte antigen–DR isotype) and CD11c as crucial additional cell surface markers for the identification and separation of the different monocyte subsets.4