CD1 expression in human atherosclerosis - A potential mechanism for T cellactivation by foam cells

Atherosclerotic plaques are chronic inflammatory lesions composed of dysfun ctional endothelium, smooth muscle cells, lipid-laden macrophages, and T ly mphocytes. This study analyzed atherosclerotic tissue specimens for express ion of CD1 molecules, a family of cell surface proteins that present lipid antigens to T cells, and examined the possibility that CD1+ lipid-laden mac rophages might present antigen to T cells. Immunohistochemical studies usin g a panel of specific monoclonal antibodies demonstrated expression of each of the four previously characterized human CD1 proteins (CD1a, -b, -c, and -d) in atherosclerotic plaques, Expression of CD1 was not observed in norm al arterial specimens and appeared to be restricted to the CD68+ lipid-lade n foam cells of atherosclerotic lesions. CD1 molecules colocalized in areas of the arterial wall that also contained abundant T lymphocytes, suggestin g potential interactions between CD1+ cells and plaque-infiltrating lymphoc ytes in situ. Using CD1-expressing foam cells derived from macrophages in v itro,we demonstrated the ability of such cells to present lipid antigens to CD1 restricted T cells, Given the abundant T cells, CD1+ macrophages, and lipid accumulation in atherosclerotic plaques, we propose a potential role for lipid antigen presentation by CD1 proteins in the generation of the inf lammatory component of these lesions.