Abstract

Macrophage accumulation participates decisively in the development and exacerbation of atherosclerosis. Circulating monocytes, the precursors of macrophages, display heterogeneity in mice and humans, but their relative contribution to atherogenesis remains unknown. We report here that the Ly-6Chi monocyte subset increased dramatically in hypercholesterolemic apoE–deficient mice consuming a high-fat diet, with the number of Ly-6Chi cells doubling in the blood every month. Ly-6Chi monocytes adhered to activated endothelium, infiltrated lesions, and became lesional macrophages. Hypercholesterolemia-associated monocytosis (HAM) developed from increased survival, continued cell proliferation, and impaired Ly-6Chi to Ly-6Clo conversion and subsided upon statin-induced cholesterol reduction. Conversely, the number of Ly-6Clo cells remained unaffected. Thus, we believe that Ly-6Chi monocytes represent a newly recognized component of the inflammatory response in experimental atherosclerosis.