Immunoinflammatory mechanisms of atherosclerosis: modern consepts

Abstract

In recent years, along with the classical concepts of the immune-inflammatory process in atherosclerosis, including the activation of monocytes / macrophages, lymphocytes, the production of inflammatory mediators, phagocytosis of oxidized LDL and the formation of foam cells, new aspects of atherogenesis, including dendritic cells, have been actively studied. Dendritic cells are the main antigen-presenting cells of bone marrow origin; they are subdivided into 2 subtypes: myeloid and plasmacytoid. Myeloid dendritic cells are found in the intima of coronary arteries, and in patients with coronary artery disease, the concentration of dendritic cells is much higher. Dendritic cells are able to present oxidized LDL as an antigen to T-lymphacytes, to activate phagocytosis of oxidized LDL by macrophages. The review presents the latest data on the participation of oxidized LDL, T-lymphocytes, monocytes / macrophages, and dendritic cells in the immune-inflammatory process in atherosclerosis.