Single cell analysis of fate-mapped macrophages reveals heterogeneity during atherosclerosis progression and regression

Researchers at NYU School of Medicine (New York, NY, USA) used single cell RNA sequencing to characterize the cellular states of macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques. Focusing on blood-derived monocytes, they tracked macrophage differentiation in mice during both progression and regression of atherosclerosis. These cells underwent dramatic changes and showed a spectrum of macrophage activation states with greater complexity than the binary M1 and M2 paradigm.