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. 2021 Nov 12;10(11):3140. doi: 10.3390/cells10113140

Figure 8.

Figure 8

Macrophage polarization effects on the cell phenotypes in the regeneration process of the vascular wall. During the first weeks, M1 macrophages stimulates EC attachment and proliferation through the release of endoglins, semaphorins, and the ECM products during the phagocytosis. After the first weeks, inflammation resolution begins with macrophage populations switching towards an M2 phenotype due to the IL-4 and MCSF released by functional ECs as well as an increase in the NO levels produced by the ECs. M2 macrophages also induce vascular wall remodeling by increasing ECs recruitment and maturation through the release of VEGF, IGFBP3, and SDF1. M2 also induce the SMCs’ expression profile towards a contractile phenotype through the release of TGFβ, ArgI, and MCP1, while contractile SMCs help the maintenance of the M2 population with the interaction of the CCR2. The interplay between mature ECs and contractile SMCs contributes to maintaining the vascular wall tone and patency (Created with BioRender.com, accessed on 7 November 2021).