title: Adventitial inflammation and its interaction with intimal atherosclerotic lesions.
abstract: The presence of adventitial inflammation in correlation with atherosclerotic lesions has been recognized for decades. In the last years, several studies have investigated the relevance and impact of adventitial inflammation on atherogenesis. In the abdominal aorta of elderly Apoe(-/-) mice, adventitial inflammatory structures were characterized as organized ectopic lymphoid tissue, and therefore termed adventitial tertiary lymphoid organs (ATLOs). These ATLOs possess similarities in development, structure and function to secondary lymphoid organs. A crosstalk between intimal atherosclerotic lesions and ATLOs has been suggested, and several studies could demonstrate a potential role for medial vascular smooth muscle cells in this process. We here review the development, phenotypic characteristics, and function of ATLOs in atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we discuss the possible role of medial vascular smooth muscle cells and their interaction between plaque and ATLOs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany ; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akhavanpoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany ; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wangler
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany ; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gleissner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany ; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Grigorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Korosoglou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany ; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Hugo A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Katus
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany ; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erbel
keywords: adventitial inflammation; adventitial tertiary lymphoid organs; atherosclerosis; autoimmunity; macrophages; vascular smooth muscle cells