One of the most important characteristics of atherosclerosis is the chronic inflammatory response in which T cells and NKT cells are very important. In this thesis several methods to modulate the... Show moreOne of the most important characteristics of atherosclerosis is the chronic inflammatory response in which T cells and NKT cells are very important. In this thesis several methods to modulate the activity of these T and NKT cells in atherosclerosis are described. The induction of regulatory T cells (as mentioned in chapters 2 and 3) positively influences the immune response in atherosclerosis. In addition, treatment with dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with oxidized LDL (oxLDL) resulted in the activation of oxLDL-specific T cells and in an increase in oxLDL-specific antibodies. These IgG antibodies have a protecting effect on atherosclerosis (chapter 4). Furthermore, the complex role of NKT cells in the immunology of atherosclerosis is described (chapters 5, 6 and 7). NKT cells can play a protective role in atherosclerosis when they are 1) activated directly by _-GalCer or when they are 2) activated by OCH loaded on DCs. The studies described in this thesis led to a better insight in the role of the immune system in high-fat diet induced atherosclerosis, and they also create a possible therapeutic protocol which can probably be applied to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in humans. Show less