Monocyte Phenotypic Plasticity in Peripheral Artery Disease:From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic TargetsOA

Peripheral artery disease(PAD)remains a significant global health issue,with current treatments primarily focused on relieving symptoms and addressingmacrovascular issues.However,critical immunoinflammatory mechanisms are often overlooked.Recent evidence suggests that monocyte phenotypic plasticity plays a central role in PAD development,affecting atherogenesis,plaque progression,ischemia-reperfusion injury,and chronic ischemic remodeling.This narrative review aims to summarize the latest advances(2023-2025)in understanding monocyte diversity,functional states,and their changes throughout different stages of PAD.We discuss both established and emerging biomarkers,such as circulating monocyte subset proportions,functional assays,immune checkpoint expression,and multi-omics signatures,highlighting their potential for prognosis and the challenges in translating them to clinical practice.We also present a stage-specific approach to mapping out potential therapies,linking monocyte phenotypes to molecular targets and possible interventions.Additionally,we address regulatory,economic,and implementation considerations for applying these findings in a clinical setting.The goal of this review is to facilitate the development of targeted immunomodulatory strategies to improve limb and cardiovascular outcomes in PAD by combining mechanistic understanding with therapeutic innovation.