Plasmacytoid dendritic cells: biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets in atherosclerosis?
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) represent a unique subset of dendritic cells that play distinct and critical roles in the immune response. Importantly, pDCs play a pivotal role in several chronic autoimmune diseases strongly characterized by an increased risk of vascular pathology. Clinical studies have shown that pDCs are detectable in atherosclerotic plaques and others have suggested an association between reduced numbers of circulating pDCs and cardiovascular events. Although the causal relationship between pDCs and atherosclerosis is still uncertain, recent results from mouse models are starting to define the specific role(s) of pDCs in the disease process. In this review, we will discuss the role of pDCs in innate and adaptive immunity, the emerging evidence demonstrating the contribution of pDCs to vascular pathology and we will consider the possible impact of pDCs on the acceleration of atherosclerosis in chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Finally, we will discuss how pDCs could be targeted for therapeutic utility.
Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Gianluca
G
Grassia
Neil
N
MacRitchie
Andrew M
AM
Platt
James M
JM
Brewer
Paul
P
Garside
Pasquale
P
Maffia
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers