Enhanced antigen presentation by macrophages promotes human atherosclerosis progression: therapeutic implications
Authors' conclusion
This study reveals that CIITA-induced antigen presentation in macrophages activates local T-cell inflammatory response, promoting plaque progression.
Study context
- Population
- Human atherosclerotic plaques; Apoe-/- mice
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- MHCII-dependent antigen presentation pathways progressively activated in lesional macrophages as human atherosclerosis advanced
- Activation associated with increased CIITA expression, driven by enhanced transcription of antisense-lncRNA CIITA-AS1 and alternative splicing generating a non-coding transcript
- Knockdown of these two lncRNAs reduced MHCII in human macrophages, suppressing co-cultured T-cell activation
- CIITA-AS1 transcription promoted CIITA expression through STAT1 recruitment
- Enforced antisense-strand transcription of Ciita in lesional macrophages up-regulated Ciita and MHCII, exacerbating atherosclerosis in mice
- siRNA-mediated Ciita silencing attenuated atherosclerosis in mice by reducing T-cell-mediated inflammation
Original publication
Enhanced antigen presentation by macrophages promotes human atherosclerosis progression: therapeutic implications. Eur Heart J. Published 11 November 2025. doi:10.
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