Immunologic aspects of atheroma

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis remains incompletely understood.

Accumulation of oxidized lipoproteins (oxLDL) within the vascular wall drives a related immune response very early during the disease course.

Such an immune response is self-amplified and eventually escapes from physiologic control mechanisms.

Certain lymphocytes may become pathogenic.

B cells play a protective role by producing antibodies able to neutralize oxLDL.

Elucidation of the immune control mechanisms in atherosclerosis will open the way to new therapeutic perspectives.