Disruptive T cells

A study on page 239 shows that death-inducing T cells kill smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic plaques. Sato et al. show that this lethal T cell activity is heightened in patients with heart disease, which could destabilize the plaques in these patients and make them more prone to rupture.

The narrowing of arteries is a natural process caused by the gradual deposition of fat and cholesterol into artery walls. The buildup of arterial plaques (atherosclerosis) is a long-term process that, for some, culminates in acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) such as heart attack and cardiac arrest. These acute attacks are caused by the sudden rupture of atherosclerotic plaques—an event that may happen more readily in some individuals than in others.

Plaques that contain immune cells such as macrophages and T...