Puddu Paolo, Puddu Giovanni M, Cravero Eleonora, Muscari Silvia, Muscari Antonio
Department of Internal Medicine, Aging and Nephrological Diseases, University of Bologna and S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Mol Med Rep. 2010 Jul-Aug;3(4):551-4. doi: 10.3892/mmr_00000295.
Accumulating evidence suggests that dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in the generation and progression of atherosclerosis (ATS), a lipid-related immuno-inflammatory disease. DCs have the ability to process and present antigens (mainly oxidized low-density lipoproteins, heat shock proteins and fragments of necrotic or apoptotic cells) to naive T cells, and the activation of T cells is a key step for the progression of atherosclerotic disease. The existence of some distinct DC subtypes has now become evident. The main categories of DC subsets are the 'conventional or myeloid' and the 'plasmacytoid', which differ in toll-like receptor type and site of expression, pathogens and antigens recognized, and effector cytokines and functions. Studies on the potential impact of DCs in the pathogenesis of ATS may lead to novel therapies to regulate the immunoreactions occurring in atherogenesis. In particular, diltiazem, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor agonists and statins have been shown to protect endothelial cell function by inhibiting DCs, a mechanism that may play a significant role in the prevention of ATS.
越来越多的证据表明，树突状细胞（DCs）在动脉粥样硬化（ATS）的发生和发展中起关键作用，ATS是一种与脂质相关的免疫炎症性疾病。DCs有能力处理抗原（主要是氧化型低密度脂蛋白、热休克蛋白以及坏死或凋亡细胞的片段）并将其呈递给初始T细胞，而T细胞的激活是动脉粥样硬化疾病进展的关键步骤。现在，一些不同的DC亚型的存在已变得明显。DC亚群的主要类别是“传统或髓样”和“浆细胞样”，它们在Toll样受体类型和表达部位、识别的病原体和抗原以及效应细胞因子和功能方面存在差异。对DCs在ATS发病机制中潜在影响的研究可能会带来调节动脉粥样硬化形成过程中发生的免疫反应的新疗法。特别是，地尔硫䓬、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体激动剂和他汀类药物已被证明可通过抑制DCs来保护内皮细胞功能，这一机制可能在预防ATS中发挥重要作用。
