Figure 3 Underlying mechanisms of TREG cells in atherosclerosis Figure 3 | Underlying mechanisms of TREG cells in atherosclerosis. TREG cells improve endothelial function, inhibit B cells, inhibit activation and migration of DCs, increase SMC and collagen content, modulate lipid metabolism, and suppress macrophage and CD4+ T cell accumulation, foam cell formation, proinflammatory cytokines, and MMPs secretion. Inhibitory cytokines, including TGF-β, IL-10, and IL-35, are essential for TREG cell-mediated suppression of atherosclerosis. CTLA-4, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4; DC, dendritic cell; EC, endothelial cell; LAG3, lymphocyte activation gene 3; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; PD-1, programmed cell death protein 1; PD-L1/2, programmed death ligand 1/2; SMC, smooth muscle cell; TGF, transforming growth factor; TREG cell, regulatory T cell. Zhang, C. et al. (2015) Regulatory T cells in cardiovascular diseases Nat. Rev. Cardiol. doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2015.169