**Dynamic Interplay Between Smooth Muscle Cells and Macrophages in Vascular Disease**

Hiroshi Iwata and Masanori Aikawa

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/61089

#### **Abstract**

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and monocytes/macrophages represent major players in atherosclerotic vascular diseases. In addition to physiological and patho‐ logical roles of each cell type in atherosclerosis, dynamic interplay between SMCs and monocytes/macrophages may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis more critically than previously understood. Activated macrophages accelerate proatherogenic functions of SMCs in vascular lesions. Activated SMCs promote addi‐ tional accumulation of pro-inflammatory macrophages through expression of chemoattractants. More recent evidence suggests the interchangeability between SMC and monocyte/macrophage lineages. Future efforts to understand such dynamic interactions between SMCs and macrophages may provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of vascular disease and the development of new classes of medical solutions.

**Keywords:** atherosclerosis, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, inflammation
