[Dendritic cells and their role in immune reactions of atherosclerosis].

Dendritic cells were discovered and recognized as antigen-presenting cells in 1973. Since then, large volume of information has accumulated showing role of dendritic cells as a key element connecting the innate and adaptive immunity. Nowadays, dendritic cells are considered to be professional immune sensors capable of recognizing both antigen amounts and antigen persistence via complex mechanisms that involve decoding and integration of various signals received in a receptor-dependant manner. Tissue microenvironment plays an important role in the modulation of effector functions of dendritic cells leading either to activation or to suppression of immune reactions. Dendritic cells maintain the homeostasis and are involved in a number of diseases including infection diseases and cancer. The presence of dendritic cells in arteries has been reported in 1995. And since then the importance of dendritic cells in atherogenesis is intensively studied. This review briefly described current knowledge on dendritic cells and their role in atherogenesis.