Evidence that dendritic cells infiltrate atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Abstract

Earlier we reported that atherosclerotic lesions of apoE-deficient mice contained cells which stained positively with anti-S-100 antibody and that cells exhibiting the ultrastructural features of dendritic cells were present in the aortic lesions. These observations suggested that dendritic cells might be involved in mouse atherosclerosis. By employing DEC-205 and MIDC-8 antibodies specific for dendritic cells, the present study has established that dendritic cells indeed accumulate in atherosclerotic lesions of apoE-deficient mice. Finding dendritic cells infiltrating atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-deficient mice offers the possibility of investigating the migratory routes of dendritic cells and their involvement in T-cell activation.