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The role of the vascular dendritic cell network in atherosclerosis
Noah Alberts-Grill1, Timothy L Denning, Amir Rezvan
1Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Insights
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a dual role in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Understanding their subsets and functions is key to developing DC-based therapies for atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are implicated in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.
- Resident vascular DCs reside in atherosclerosis-prone areas with disturbed blood flow.
- Distinct vascular DC subsets exhibit functional heterogeneity impacting vascular homeostasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on vascular DC subsets, their origin, and function.
- To discuss the disruption of DC homeostasis during atherogenesis.
- To evaluate DC-based "atherosclerosis vaccine" therapies and differentiate DCs from macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on vascular dendritic cells.
- Characterization of phenotypically and functionally distinct vascular DC subsets.
- Analysis of DC roles in immune activation, tolerance, and atherogenesis.
Main Results:
- Vascular DCs contribute to immune balance in healthy vasculature.
- Disrupted DC functions during atherogenesis promote atherosclerosis.
- DC-based therapies show potential for atherosclerosis treatment.
Conclusions:
- Vascular DCs are critical regulators of vascular health and disease.
- Further research is needed to distinguish DCs from macrophages and explore therapeutic strategies.
- Understanding DC heterogeneity is vital for advancing atherosclerosis treatment.
Abstract:
A complex role has been described for dendritic cells (DCs) in the potentiation and control of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Resident vascular DCs are found in the intima of atherosclerosis-prone vascular regions exposed to disturbed blood flow patterns. Several phenotypically and functionally distinct vascular DC subsets have been described. The functional heterogeneity of these cells and their contributions to vascular homeostasis, inflammation, and atherosclerosis are only recently beginning to emerge. Here, we review the available literature, characterizing the origin and function of known vascular DC subsets and their important role contributing to the balance of immune activation and immune tolerance governing vascular homeostasis under healthy conditions. We then discuss how homeostatic DC functions are disrupted during atherogenesis, leading to atherosclerosis. The effectiveness of DC-based "atherosclerosis vaccine" therapies in the treatment of atherosclerosis is also reviewed. We further provide suggestions for distinguishing DCs from macrophages and discuss important future directions for the field.
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