Immunostaining of Lymphocytes in Mouse Atherosclerotic Plaque

Immunostaining can be defined as a method for identification of constituents in situ, e.g., proteins, using specific antigen-antibody interactions, visualized by color or fluorescence. In experimental research of atherosclerosis, immunostaining is a key method used for the characterization of the cellular composition in the atherosclerotic plaques. This includes the quantification of macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and lymphocytes-especially T lymphocytes. In this chapter we focus on basic protocols for characterization of lymphocytes and/or local T lymphocyte-related antigens in mouse atherosclerotic lesions.