The therapeutic potential of targeting B cells and anti-oxLDL antibodies in atherosclerosis

M van Leeuwen1, J Damoiseaux, A Duijvestijn

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Section Clinical & Experimental Immunology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Autoimmunity Reviews
|March 17, 2009
PubMed

While the involvement of T cells in atherosclerosis is nowadays well accepted, little is known about the role of B cells. Obviously, B cells as the source of antibodies, in particular antibodies to oxLDL, have gained a lot of attention in atherosclerosis. In addition, B cells do harbour other functions in adaptive immunity. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on both the role of B cells and antibodies, i.e., anti-oxLDL antibodies, in atherosclerosis. It appears that B cells and also anti-oxLDL antibodies may comprise pro- and anti-atherogenic effects. Therefore, the establishment of effective therapy, targeting B cells or anti-oxLDL antibodies, warrants further research to unravel these opposite effects.

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