动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis)是多种心血管疾病的病理生理学基础,单核巨噬细胞(monocytes/macrophages)作为其中关键的细胞类型,参与血管炎症的启动、动脉粥样硬化斑块的形成、进展和破裂等。近年来随着单细胞测序技术的迅猛发展,斑块中单核巨噬细胞的高度异质性和可塑性亦逐步被解析。本文拟综述单细胞测序技术揭示的患者及小鼠动脉粥样硬化模型中最新的巨噬细胞亚型,总结其标记物、功能异质性及相应的机制,以期为动脉粥样硬化的诊断和治疗提供更为精准的方向。

Atherosclerosis is the pathophysiological basis of a variety of cardiovascular diseases, with monocytes/macrophages being a key cell type that participates in the initiation of vascular inflammation, the formation, progression and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. In recent years, with the rapid development of single-cell sequencing technology, the high heterogeneity and plasticity of mononuclear macrophages in plaques have been gradually elucidated. This article reviews the latest monocyte/macrophage subtypes identified in patients and mouse models of atherosclerosis through single-cell sequencing technology, summarizes their markers, functional heterogeneity, and underlying mechanisms, with the aim of providing more precise directions for the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.