oxLDL uptake by dendritic cells induces upregulation of scavenger-receptors, maturation and differentiation.

Background: Several studies have proposed a pathogenic role for oxidized LDL (oxLDL) in atherosclerosis. We tested the hypothesis whether oxLDL modulates dendritic cells (DCs), since these important antigen-presenting cells have been implicated in atherogenesis. We investigated the uptake of oxLDL by DCs, the scavenger-receptors involved and the resulting changes in phenotype and cytokine-spectra.