Decreased Regulatory T Cells in Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Lesions: Imbalance between Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cells in Atherosclerosis

Figure 3

T cell emergence in atherosclerotic lesions. (a) Immunohistochemical staining of proinflammatory CD4+ T helper cells of a control vessel and of the plaque shoulder regions of a stable and an unstable atherosclerotic plaque (200x). The pie diagrams demonstrate the percentage of immunostained cells present in each plaque region (LC—lipid core, PS—plaque shoulders, FC—fibrous cap, M—media, and CW—contralateral wall). (b) Mean T cell numbers of control vessels (), stable (), and unstable () plaques. Results are expressed as cells per 0.1 mm². Values are presented as median (25–75% CI). , .

(a)

(b)