The discovery of cellular immunity in the atherosclerotic plaque.
It is now generally accepted that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory/immune disease triggered by LDL accumulation in the artery wall. When discovering T cells and the molecular components of a cellular immune response, we proposed that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process with an autoimmune component. This notion was met with general skepticism but has gained support from experimental and clinical studies. Here we describe some of the early studies that helped developing this concept.
Hansson
Göran K
GK
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Goran.Hansson@ki.se
Jonasson
Lena
L
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens