Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology
Published on: May 6, 2014
[Dendritic cells and their role in immune reactions of atherosclerosis]
Abstract:
Dendritic cells were discovered and recognized as antigen-presenting cells in 1973. Since then, large volume of information has accumulated showing role of dendritic cells as a key element connecting the innate and adaptive immunity. Nowadays, dendritic cells are considered to be professional immune sensors capable of recognizing both antigen amounts and antigen persistence via complex mechanisms that involve decoding and integration of various signals received in a receptor-dependant manner. Tissue microenvironment plays an important role in the modulation of effector functions of dendritic cells leading either to activation or to suppression of immune reactions. Dendritic cells maintain the homeostasis and are involved in a number of diseases including infection diseases and cancer. The presence of dendritic cells in arteries has been reported in 1995. And since then the importance of dendritic cells in atherogenesis is intensively studied. This review briefly described current knowledge on dendritic cells and their role in atherogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammation
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Antigen Presenting Cells
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.

