Current advances in understanding of immunopathology of atherosclerosis

The importance of the involvement of the immune system in the development and progression of atherosclerosis was first suggested after the discovery of T cells in atherosclerotic lesions in 1990s. In order to be activated, T cell needs to be presented with an antigen but how this occurs in atherosclerosis has been unclear until recently. Current research has recognised dendritic cells as key initiators and regulators of immune processes in atherosclerosis. Accumulating evidence has revealed novel functions of several subsets of regulatory T cells, which have been shown to maintain immunological tolerance to self-antigens and to inhibit atherosclerosis development by suppressing the inflammatory response of effector T cells. Recent studies have also revealed the importance of natural killer T cells and their interaction with dendritic cells in atherogenesis. This review briefly summarises recent advances in the understanding of immune mechanisms in atherosclerosis and highlights the perspective of immunisation as an approach against this disease.