Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammatory disorder of the medium and large-sized arteries. Recent experiments demonstrated that atherosclerosis is a Th1 dominant autoimmune condition, whereas Th2 cells are rarely detected within the atherosclerotic lesions. Several studies have indicated that Th2 type cytokines could be effective in the reduction and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaque. The...

The function of the adaptive immune response against exogenous (non-self) agents is to help the innate arm of the immune system (represented by phagocytic cells) to fight and eliminate these agents. We suggest that the body also protects itself against potentially harmful self components using mechanisms similar to those used for fighting and eliminating non-self agents, and that the protective...

Dendritic cells (DC) are central to the immune system because of their role in antigen presentation leading to either tolerance or immunity among cells of the adaptive immune response. It is becoming increasingly evident that DC show extensive plasticity in terms of their origin and function, giving rise to a number of subsets represented differentially in all lymphoid organs. This article cons...