CD8+ T-cells are numerous in early and advanced atherosclerotic lesion, but their role in atherogenesis and plaque stability is still under debate. Recent work in murine models suggests the existence multiple CD8+ T-cell subsets that may differently impact the progression of disease. Here we aim to characterize the CD8+ T-cell population in human atherosclerotic lesions using a combination of histology, flow cytometry and mass cytometry (Cytof).
Fresh carotid or femoral endarterectomy and matching blood samples were collect from a local hospital. Part of the sample was fixed for histology and the remainder was digested to obtain single cell suspensions. Cells were labelled with fluorescently labelled antibodies for flowcytometry and isotope labelled antibody for mass cytometry. Results were analyzed with Flowjo (flowcytometry and mass cytometry) and Cytosplore (mass cytometry) software.
CD8+ T-cells were detected in every lesion (n=42) analyzed and on average constituted 23% of the total leukocyte. The percentage of CD8+ T-cells inversely correlated with the percentage of macrophages in the lesion, suggesting a role for CD8+ T-cells in preventing macrophage accumulation in the lesion. Mass cytometry revealed at least 13 phenotypically distinct CD8+ T-cells in the lesions, terminally differentiated CD27-/CD28- representing the largest CD8+ section.
Human atherosclerotic lesions contain various CD8+ T-cell populations that may differentially affect disease progression and lesion stability. Although the overall effect of CD8+ T-cell presence in the lesion appear to be beneficial, identifying the protective subsets and expanding them may open new avenues for treatment.
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