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Human atherosclerotic plaques express DC‐SIGN, a novel protein found on dendritic cells and macrophages
Author(s) -
Soilleux EJ,
Morris LS,
Trowsdale J,
Coleman N,
Boyle JJ
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1205
Subject(s) - dc sign , dendritic cell , cd14 , macrophage , cd68 , arteriogenesis , inflammation , pathology , medicine , antigen , immunology , biology , immunohistochemistry , angiogenesis , immune system , cancer research , in vitro , biochemistry
Abstract The association of autoimmune phenomena with atherosclerosis suggests that plaques may contain specialized antigen‐presenting cells, dendritic cells (DCs). DC‐SIGN is a C‐type lectin expressed by DCs. This study assessed whether human atherosclerotic plaques expressed DC‐SIGN and several other macrophage/DC markers. Plaques from human coronary and carotid arteries and aorta contained DC‐SIGN‐immunoreactive cells. Double‐labelling showed co‐expression of DC‐SIGN and macrophage/DC lineage markers CD14, CD68, HLA‐DR, and S100. There was no immunoreactivity for the DC activation markers CD83 or CMRF‐44. Since DC‐SIGN mediates adhesion to T‐lymphocytes and endocytosis, its expression in atherosclerotic plaques may have functional implications. Activated DCs migrate quickly from areas of inflammation to regional lymph nodes, possibly explaining the paucity of activated DCs in atherosclerotic plaques. In conclusion, this study has shown that DC‐SIGN is expressed in atherosclerosis. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.