title: Current understanding of the role of B cell subsets and intimal and adventitial B cells in atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inflammation, in addition to high cholesterol is a major factor contributing to atherosclerosis-associated adverse cardiovascular events. Thus, there is a pressing need for additional therapeutic strategies to reduce inflammation, by targeting immune cells and cytokines. Here we review B cell subsets and adventitial and intimal B cells in atherosclerosis development and discuss potential B cell-targeted anti-inflammatory therapies for atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  B cell subsets can have opposing proatherogenic and atheroprotective roles in atherosclerosis. CD-20-targeted B cell depletion has been shown to decrease murine atherosclerotic lesions. The accumulation of intimal and adventitial B cells associated with atherosclerotic lesions is consistent with their participation in local inflammatory responses. As B2 B cells are proatherogenic, blocking its survival factor B cell activating factor may selectively delete this proatherogenic subset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both intimal and adventitial B cells appear important in atherosclerosis. B2 B cells are proatherogenic and other subsets such as regulatory B cells are antiatherogenic. Future B cell-targeted therapy for atherosclerosis should be customized to selectively deplete damaging B2 B cells while sparing or expanding protective B cell subsets.
authors: Vascular Biology and Atherosclerosis Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Southern Clinical School, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Tin
authors: T
authors: Kyaw
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Tipping
authors: Ban-Hock
authors: BH
authors: Toh
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Bobik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000276:immunology*