title: Resident intimal dendritic cells and the initiation of atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To highlight the fact that regional differences in the normal arterial intima are critical to atherosclerotic lesion formation driven by systemic risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At arterial curvatures, bifurcations and branches unique hemodynamics influence endothelial cell signaling and gene expression patterns, which create a proinflammatory environment, with low-grade recruitment of monocytes and accumulation of cells with dendritic features in the intima. Upon induction of hypercholesterolemia, these resident intimal dendritic cells initiate atherosclerosis by rapidly engulfing lipid and becoming the first foam cells in nascent lesions. This step precedes endothelial cell activation and increased monocyte recruitment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unique features of the arterial intima at atherosclerosis-susceptible sites do not lead to disease under normal physiological conditions, but this intimal environment promotes the initiation of atherogenesis upon induction of systemic risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia.
authors: Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. myron.cybulsky@utoronto.ca
authors: Myron I
authors: MI
authors: Cybulsky
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Jongstra-Bilen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*