Figure 1.

Cytotoxic lymphocytes promote lesion apoptosis and necrosis via cytotoxin‐, FasL/TRAIL‐ or cytokine‐mediated mechanisms. Lesion macrophages are major apoptotic or necrotic cells in lesions, and increased lesion apoptosis and necrosis generated larger necrotic cores, a predominant feature of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Cytotoxic lymphocytes also induce apoptosis and necrosis in vascular endothelial or smooth muscle cells that may contribute to rupture of vulnerable plaques.