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. 2012 Dec 11;3:373. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00373

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Known and putative roles for B cell subsets in atherosclerosis. Conventional, follicular B-2 B cells may promote atherosclerosis by skewing CD4 T cell differentiation to IFNγ producing Th1 cells and away from IL-17 producing Th17 T cells. The role of Bregs in atherosclerosis is not yet determined, but they may attenuate atherosclerosis by secretion of IL-10. Peritoneal B-1a B cells attenuate atherosclerosis through production of IgM, and potentially IL-10. PD-L2 is expressed on anti-PC B-1a B cells, potentially marking atheroprotective cells within this subset. The role of innate response activator B cells (IRA; derived from peritoneal B-1a B cells) in atherosclerosis is unknown but they produce GM-CSF, which may be linked to atherogenesis. The role of B-1b B cells in atherosclerosis is unknown. *(- - -) Role in atherosclerosis not yet reported.