Medical College of Wisconsin
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Macrophage-Mediated Mechanisms of Vascular Remodeling in Arteriovenous Malformations. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2026 Aug;46(8):e323163

Date

06/25/2026

Pubmed ID

42345097

DOI

10.1161/ATVBAHA.125.323163

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-105045997427 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are vascular malformations that can occur in virtually all tissues throughout the body, most commonly in the brain, lungs, and cutaneous tissue. AVM pathophysiology is dynamic and multifactorial with multiple contributing cell types and biological processes. Inflammation and perivascular accumulation of macrophages are well-recognized components of AVM pathophysiology that have been demonstrated for decades in both patient AVM tissue and animal models. Despite the clinical and preclinical data identifying a role for macrophages in AVM pathophysiology, it remains poorly understood how macrophages mechanistically contribute to AVM initiation and progression. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing studies leveraging clinical AVM samples are beginning to shed new light on macrophage diversity in AVM tissue and direct macrophage-mediated effects on endothelial cell signaling pathways. This review will focus on fundamental aspects of AVM pathophysiology, mechanisms of macrophage-mediated vascular remodeling in AVMs, and potential future research directions focused on macrophage-mediated mechanisms in AVM pathophysiology.

Author List

Nguyen N, Spearman AD

Author

Andrew Spearman MD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Arteriovenous Malformations
Endothelial Cells
Humans
Macrophages
Signal Transduction
Vascular Remodeling