Decreased numbers of regulatory T cells are associated with human atherosclerotic lesion vulnerability and inversely correlate with infiltrated mature dendritic cells

B Dietel, I Cicha, CJ Voskens, E Verhoeven… - Atherosclerosis, 2013 - Elsevier
Abstract Purpose Mature dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in the inflammatory process
within atherosclerotic lesions by stimulation of effector T cells, which can contribute to
plaque instability. Interactions between DCs and regulatory T cells (Treg), which regulate
immune response by attenuating acute inflammation, are postulated to be involved in the
pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We investigated a possible correlation between
infiltrated DCs and Treg in human atherosclerotic plaques. Methods Cross-sections of 40 …