CD8+ T cell activation predominate early immune responses to hypercholesterolemia in Apoe-/- mice

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia leads to unopposed activation of Th1 immune responses in lymph nodes draining atherosclerotic lesions, whereas Th1 activation in the spleen is balanced by a concomitant activation of Th2 cells. The activation of CD8(+) T cells implies that hypercholesterolemia is associated with formation of cell autoantigens.