© 1998 by European Society of Cardiology
Copyright © 1998, European Society of Cardiology
Mapping of vascular dendritic cells in atherosclerotic arteries suggests their involvement in local immune-inflammatory reactions
Surgical Professorial Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
* Corresponding author. Tel. (+61-2) 9361 2354; Fax (+61-2) 9360 4424.
Objective: We previously demonstrated that vascular dendritic cells (VDCs) are present in the intima of large arteries and that their numbers are increased in atherosclerotic lesions. This study was undertaken to determine whether VDCs are involved in immune-mediated reactions in atherogenesis. Methods: Specimens of carotid artery and aorta were obtained at operation. VDCs were identified with anti-CD1a or with S-100. Co-localisation of VDCs with different intimal cells, including T-cells and macrophages, was studied using a double immunostaining procedure. In areas where the co-localising cells were detected, the peculiarities of expression of HLA-DR, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 were examined. Results: In all the atherosclerotic plaques, VDCs were seen in contact with T-cells, but these co-localising cells were irregularly distributed and were mainly found in zones of neovascularisation containing inflammatory infiltrates. In other areas, T-cell/VDC co-localisation was rarely detected but VDCs were often found in contact with macrophages. VDCs were detected also in the media beneath atherosclerotic lesions and in the adventitia, where they were mostly around vasa vasorum, especially in areas exhibiting signs of acute inflammation. In these areas VDCs expressed ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and were in contact with T-cells. In both plaques and in the adventitia, the areas with co-localising VDCs and T-cells corresponded to the areas with HLA-DR expression. Conclusions: The results suggest that VDCs are involved in T-cell activation in atherogenesis. There are two regions within the arterial wall where VDC/T-cell co-localisation mostly occurs, namely, in zones of neovascularisation containing inflammatory infiltrates located within atherosclerotic lesions, and in areas with inflammatory infiltrates around vasa vasorum in the adventitia. Possibly, some intimal VDCs migrate through the media and adventitia to adjacent lymph nodes where they present atherosclerosis associated antigens. We also speculate that VDC/macrophage contacts are essential in processing immune information in atherogenesis.
KEYWORDS Arteries; Atherosclerosis; T-cells; Vascular dendritic cells
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
M. Bruze Thoughts on Implants and Contact Allergy Arch Dermatol, August 1, 2008; 144(8): 1042 - 1044. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Skowasch, A. Jabs, R. Andrie, S. Dinkelbach, B. Luderitz, and G. Bauriedel Presence of bone-marrow- and neural-crest-derived cells in intimal hyperplasia at the time of clinical in-stent restenosis Cardiovasc Res, December 1, 2003; 60(3): 684 - 691. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. J. Inder, Y. V. Bobryshev, S. M. Cherian, R. S. Albert Lord, K. Masuda, and C. Yutani Accumulation of Lymphocytes, Dendritic Cells, and Granulocytes in the Aortic Wall Affected by Takayasu's Disease Angiology, July 1, 2000; 51(7): 565 - 579. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||


