CCL3/CCR5 and CX3CL1/CX3CR1 chemokine interactions are involved in T-cell accumulation in human atherosclerotic plaques

Abstract

Background and Aims: Immune cells, particularly T-lymphocytes, play a critical role in atherosclerotic plaques’ progression and destabilization leading to myocardial infarctions and strokes. Chemokine binding was proposed to drive T-cell accumulation in plaques. We analysed the chemokine receptor signatures of T-cells isolated from 17 atherosclerotic plaques from 13 patients and compared them with autologous peripheral blood T-cells. Also, the chemokine expression levels in plaque tissue were compared with those in peripheral blood cells.