title: T-cell immunity in acute coronary syndromes.
abstract: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are complications of atherosclerotic vascular disease that are triggered by the sudden rupture of an atheroma. Atherosclerotic plaque stability is determined by multiple factors, of which immune and inflammatory pathways are critical. Unstable plaque is characterized by an infiltrate of T cells and macrophages, thereby resembling a delayed hypersensitivity reaction. On activation, T cells secrete cytokines that regulate the activity of macrophages, or the T cells may differentiate into effector cells with tissue-damaging potential. Constitutive stimulation of T cells and macrophages in ACS is not limited to the vascular lesion but also involves peripheral immune cells, suggesting fundamental abnormalities in homeostatic mechanisms that control the assembly, turnover, and diversity of the immune system as a whole. This review gives particular attention to the emergence of a specialized T-cell subset, natural killer T cells, in patients with ACS. Natural killer T cells have proinflammatory properties and the capability of directly contributing to vascular injury.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA. weyand.cornelia@mayo.edu
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Weyand
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goronzy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liuzzo
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kopecky
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Frye
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000276:immunology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines