CD8 ⁺ T Lymphocytes Regulate the Arteriogenic Response to Ischemia by Infiltrating the Site of Collateral Vessel Development and Recruiting CD4 ⁺ Mononuclear Cells Through the Expression of Interleukin-16

Abstract

These results demonstrate that CD8+ T cells importantly contribute to the early phase of collateral development. After femoral artery ligation, CD8+ T cells infiltrate the site of collateral vessel growth and recruit CD4+ mononuclear cells through the expression of IL-16. Our study provides further evidence of the significant role of the immune system in modulating collateral development in response to peripheral ischemia.