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Updated: May 6, 2026

A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology
Published on: May 6, 2014
Lymphocytic tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily co-stimulatory molecules in the pathogenesis of
Esther Smeets1, Svenja Meiler, Esther Lutgens
1aDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef, Amsterdam, The Netherlands bInstitute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, ,Germany.
Purpose Of Review:
The role of lymphocytes in the chronic inflammatory disease atherosclerosis has emerged over the past decade. Co-stimulatory molecules of the heterogeneous tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily play a pivotal role in lymphocyte activation, proliferation and differentiation. Here we describe the immune modulatory properties and mechanisms of four tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily members in atherosclerosis.
Recent Findings:
CD40/CD40L, OX40L/OX40, CD70/CD27 and CD137/CD137L are present in human atherosclerotic plaques and have shown strong immune modulatory functions in atherosclerosis, resulting in either atherogenic or atheroprotective effects in mouse models of atherosclerosis.
Summary:
Insight into the immune modulatory mechanisms of co-stimulatory interactions in atherosclerosis can contribute to clinical exploitation of these interactions in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
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