Plasmacytoid dendritic cell function in the development of atherosclerosis

Defining innate and adaptive immune functions of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in atherosclerosis

A team led by Dr Pasquale Maffia at the University of Glasgow is interested in the role of immune cells in the circulatory system in the onset of heart and circulatory disease. Much heart disease occurs because of the build-up of fatty, or atherosclerotic, plaque in the vessel wall. Plaques contain cells from the immune system, which initially invade the injured vessel wall to try to repair it after fatty build up. But they get trapped there and contribute to the disease process. The researchers are interested in a particular type of immune cell called a plasmacytoid dendritic cell. Previous research has shown that these cells may be present in plaques. Studies have also shown that during cardiovascular disease there are lower numbers of these cells circulating in the bloodstream. The University of Glasgow team will build on these studies to try to identify the precise role the cells may have in the development of disease. They will study mice that have been genetically modified in the laboratory so that the animals either do not produce any plasmacytoid dendritic cells or the normal function of these cells is altered. The mice will then be fed a diet high in fat and monitored for the presence of plaque build-up. The findings will help to determine if one day new treatments for cardiovascular disease could be developed that work by targeting plasmacytoid dendritic cells.