Linking CD11b⁺ Dendritic Cells and Natural Killer T Cells to Plaque Inflammation in Atherosclerosis

Figure 1

Gating strategy for the analysis of immune cells in murine atherosclerosis. Gates are set on isotypes to correct for nonspecific binding. (a) Plots are pregated on FSC and SSC to define the total percentage of leukocytes from cell debris. (b) The total cDC population was identified based on the expression of CD11c and MHCII. (c, f) Based on their expression of CD11b (c) and CD103 (f) two cDC subsets were identified. A distinction was made between circulating Ly-6C^high and Ly-6C^low monocytes and tissue resident macrophages (plots not shown). (d) Lymphocyte subsets were identified as T cells (CD3⁺ NK1.1⁻), NK cells (CD3⁻ NK1.1⁺), and NKT cells (CD3⁺ NK1.1⁺). (e) Th cells were defined as CD4⁺ cells within the total T cell population.