TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schäfer, Sarah
A1  - Zernecke, Alma
T1  - CD8\(^+\) T cells in atherosclerosis
T2  - Cells
N2  - Atherosclerotic lesions are populated by cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, including CD8\(^+\) T cells. The CD8\(^+\) T cell infiltrate has recently been characterized in mouse and human atherosclerosis and revealed activated, cytotoxic, and possibly dysfunctional and exhausted cell phenotypes. In mouse models of atherosclerosis, antibody-mediated depletion of CD8\(^+\) T cells ameliorates atherosclerosis. CD8\(^+\) T cells control monopoiesis and macrophage accumulation in early atherosclerosis. In addition, CD8\(^+\) T cells exert cytotoxic functions in atherosclerotic plaques and contribute to macrophage cell death and necrotic core formation. CD8\(^+\) T cell activation may be antigen-specific, and epitopes of atherosclerosis-relevant antigens may be targets of CD8\(^+\) T cells and their cytotoxic activity. CD8\(^+\) T cell functions are tightly controlled by costimulatory and coinhibitory immune checkpoints. Subsets of regulatory CD25\(^+\)CD8\(^+\) T cells with immunosuppressive functions can inhibit atherosclerosis. Importantly, local cytotoxic CD8\(^+\) T cell responses may trigger endothelial damage and plaque erosion in acute coronary syndromes. Understanding the complex role of CD8\(^+\) T cells in atherosclerosis may pave the way for defining novel treatment approaches in atherosclerosis. In this review article, we discuss these aspects, highlighting the emerging and critical role of CD8\(^+\) T cells in atherosclerosis.
KW  - atherosclerosis
KW  - CD8\(^+\) T cells
KW  - inflammation
KW  - cytotoxic T cells
KW  - single cell RNA sequencing
KW  - checkpoint inhibitors
KW  - immunotherapy
Y1  - 2020
UR  - https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/22017
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-220170
SN  - 2073-4409
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
ER  -