title: Dendritic cells: a double-edge sword in atherosclerotic inflammation.
abstract: Functional heterogeneity of dendritic cells (DCs) observed in atherosclerosis suggest for their complex and multifaced role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic disease. A delicate balance between anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory mechanisms drives atherogenesis, and local microenvironment triggers the actual involvement of DCs in atherosclerosis-associated inflammation. Responding to microenvironment stimuli, DCs contribute to atherogenesis in both ways being involved in supporting proatherogenic vascular inflammation and by suppressing inflammatory responses via induction of self-tolerogenic properties and regulatory T cells (Tregs). The local microenvironment and extrinsic stimuli influence DC phenotype and hence could control the phenotypic switch toward inflammation or tolerance.
authors.forename: Dimitry A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chistiakov
authors.forename: Igor A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sobenin
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Orekhov
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. y.bobryshev@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Yuri V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Bobryshev
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000276:immunology