Innate immune response plays important roles in the lesion initiation and progression of atherosclerosis (As). Innate immune cells, including monocyte/macrophages, mast cells, natural killer cells, neutrophilic granulocytes and dendritic cells, represent the first line of defense against pathogens and foreign agents. These cells have extensive effects involved in foam cell formation, extracellular matrix degradation, cell apoptosis, angiogenesis and As plaque rupture. Pattern recognition receptors, including Toll-like and NOD-like receptors, could mediate innate immune response by recognize pa...
