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Regulatory T-Cells, FoxP3 and Atherosclerosis

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Forkhead Transcription Factors

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 665))

Abstract

Innate immune responses follow accumulation of modified lipids within the arterial wall thereby influencing atherosclerotic plaque progression. One of the mechanisms evolved in maintaining immunologic self-tolerance involves upregulation of regulatory T-cells, among which the CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T-cells (Treg) are best characterized. The putative important role of Treg in the initiation of atherosclerotic lesions as well as in the progression towards unstable plaques leading to ischemic events, supported by human studies and, indirectly, by murine models. Herein, we summarize the experimental approaches taken in order to study the possible mechanisms of Treg involvement in atherosclerosis as well as the beneficial clinical potential of Treg in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Michal Entin-Meer & Jacob George

  2. Institute of Pathology Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Arnon Afek

Authors
  1. Michal Entin-Meer
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  2. Arnon Afek
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  3. Jacob George
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacob George .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cellular and Molecular Cerebral Ischemia, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Kenneth Maiese MD

  2. Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Kenneth Maiese MD

  3. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Kenneth Maiese MD

  4. Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Kenneth Maiese MD

  5. Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Kenneth Maiese MD

  6. Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    Kenneth Maiese MD

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Entin-Meer, M., Afek, A., George, J. (2009). Regulatory T-Cells, FoxP3 and Atherosclerosis. In: Maiese, K. (eds) Forkhead Transcription Factors. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 665. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1599-3_8

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