Table 2.

Potential therapeutic approaches targeting plaque macrophages.

Target	Method/drugs		Possible mechanisms	References
CCR2	Nanoparticle-encapsulated siRNA		Reducing Lys6Chigh monocytes at the inflammation site and the inhibition of migration of bone marrow granulocyte macrophage progenitors into the blood	[145, 146]
	Monoclonal antibodies: MLN-1202		Reducing serum C-reactive protein and preventing egress of CCR2-sensitive monocytes from the bone marrow	[147]
	Antagonist	Propagermanium	Selectively inhibiting CCR2-mediated monocytes migration without affecting CCL2/CCR2 binding or CCL2-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization	[148, 149]
		TLK-19705	A smaller but similar molecule like propagermanium	[149]
		GSK1344386B	Selective CCR2 inhibition	[150]
		PA508	CCL2 mutant as a CCL2 competitor, combine with CCR2 without functionally activation	[151]
CCL2	Antibodies		Inhibiting macrophage infiltration while bringing some potential side effects such as neovascularization disorders and impaired immune system function	[152]
CCR7	Statins or bone marrow transplantation		Upregulating CCR7, promoting the egress of macrophages from the plaque, and helping it return to the lymphoid tissue	[154, 155]