Chapter category: Atherosclerosis
Evidence for Immune Involvement in Atherogenesis
Edited by: Ming K. Heng
ISBN:
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Chapter authors:
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Much of the evidence for the hypothesis that atherogenesis represents an inflammatory response to arterial injury was derived from pathologic and recently, immunohistochemical, studies. It has been known for many years from pathologic studies that the cellular infiltrate of these atherosclerotic lesions is comprised mainly of mononuclear cells. After the development of cell lineage–specific antibodies, immunohistochemical studies have shown that the cellular population of atherosclerotic lesions is composed almost entirely of T lymphocytes, macrophages and smooth muscle cells. More recently, studies showing upregulation of the immunoregulatory molecule CD40 ligand and its receptor CD40 in atherosclerotic lesions further support involvement of cellular immune mechanism in atherogenesis (Mach et al 1997; Schonbeck et al 1997; Mach et al 1998). As discussed in the previous Chapter, macrophages and T–cells constitute the most important elements of the cellular immune system, and because of the ubiquitous presence of these two immune competent cells in atherosclerotic lesions, there has been a growing awareness that immune mechanisms are involved in its pathogenesis. More recently, there has also been an increasing evidence that atherosclerosis shares many similarities in its immunologic and inflammatory responses with other autoimmune diseases, and especially rheumatoid arthritis (Pasceri et al 1999). As will be discussed below, the bulk of evidence to date implicates cellular immune mechanisms, rather than humoral, in atherosclerosis.
Additional chapters from this book:
Mechanisms of T Lymphocyte Activation: Role in Atherogenesis
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Activated T lymphocytes are believed to play regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Significant numbers of activated T lymphocytes, colocalized with macrophages, are present ...
Antigen Recognition by gd T–Cells:
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Activated T lymphocytes are an integral part of atherosclerotic plaques, and recent observations suggest that they play a role in the inflammatory response in atherogenesis (Gown et...
Antigen Recognition by gd T–Cells:
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Activated T lymphocytes are an integral part of atherosclerotic plaques, and recent observations suggest that they play a role in the inflammatory response in atherogenesis (Gown et...
Mechanisms of T Lymphocyte Activation: Role in Atherogenesis
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Activated T lymphocytes are believed to play regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Significant numbers of activated T lymphocytes, colocalized with macrophages, are present ...
The Activated Macrophage: Role in Atherogenesis
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Macrophages are found in lesions of atherosclerosis at all stages of lesion development, where they are best known for their ability to accumulate lipids, forming foam cells in atherosclerotic...
Homing Mechanisms of Lymphocytes: Role of Adhesion Molecules and
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
The recruitment of activatedTlymphocytes in early lesions of atherosclerosis supports the concept that these cells are involved in atherogenesis (Tsukada et al, 1986; Munro et al 1987; Xu et a...
Cytokine Activated Target Cells in Atherogenesis: The Vascular
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells is an integral component of the thickened intima in atherosclerotic and restenotic arteries (Schwartz and Ross, 1984; Gordon et al, 1990; O'Brien ...
Cytokine–Activated Target Cells in Atherogenesis: The Endothelial
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Cell–mediated immunity involving activated lymphocytes and macrophages is believed to play a significant role in atherogenesis. A variety of cytokines secreted by both activated lymphocyt...
Cytokines and Growth Factors in Receptor–Mediated Signaling
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Smooth muscle cells constitute up to 60–80% of the cellular population within the arterial intima in atherosclerotic plaques and restenotic lesions (Schwartz and Reidy 1987; Khochi et al,...
Immune Mechanisms in Acute Coronary Ischemic Syndromes
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
In recent years, the concept that atherosclerosis has many patho–physiologic characteristics of a chronic inflammatory process has lead to a reappraisal of the mechanisms of the acute cor...
Evidence for Immune Involvement in Atherogenesis
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Much of the evidence for the hypothesis that atherogenesis represents an inflammatory response to arterial injury was derived from pathologic and recently, immunohistochemical, studies. It has...
Basic Concepts in Atherogenesis, Immunology and Wound Repair
Ming K. Heng and Madalene C.Y. Heng
Although understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanismsof atherogenesis has greatly accelerated over the last decade, surprising modern concepts of its basic pathophysiology have exist...
