Figure 1
From: Once Upon a Time: The Adaptive Immune Response in Atherosclerosis—a Fairy Tale No More
The adaptive immune response in atherosclerosis. Both proatherogenic and atheroprotective players have been identified in atherosclerosis. The immune response can be generated in secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) such as lymph nodes and spleen, or in tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) in the adventitia associated to the lesions. The relative contribution of SLOs and TLOs to atherosclerosis progression, how immune effectors enter the plaque (luminal versus intraplaque neovessels), the relationship between TLO formation and intraplaque/adventitial angiogenesis, as well as the extent of exchange between SLOs and TLOs (are TLOs functionally connected to lymphatics?), are unresolved issues.