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Participation of innate and acquired immunity in atherosclerosis

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Abstract

Coronary artery disease, the major manifestation of atherosclerosis, is the leading cause of death in the Western world. However, the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is still poorly understood. Controversy exists regarding the participation of innate immunity involving macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells vs antigen-specific acquired immunity involving lymphocytes. Macrophages predominate in atherosclerotic lesions. NK cells, although smaller in number, are present as well. Furthermore, T lymphocytes that participate in acquired immunity are frequently observed in lesions and can modulate lesion progression. By using mouse models of hyperlipidemia, our laboratory is addressing in vivo the participation of both innate inflammatory responses and acquired immune responses in atherosclerosis.

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  1. Linda K. Curtiss

    Present address: Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, 92037, La Jolla, CA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, 92037, La Jolla, CA

    Nobuhiko Kubo, Natalie K. Schiller & William A. Boisvert

  2. Department of Vascular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA

    Linda K. Curtiss

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Curtiss, L.K., Kubo, N., Schiller, N.K. et al. Participation of innate and acquired immunity in atherosclerosis. Immunol Res 21, 167–176 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1385/IR:21:2-3:167

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