Roles of cytotoxic lymphocytes and MIC/LILR families in pathophysiology of Takayasu arteritis

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) affects the aorta and its primary branches, mainly in young women. In its advanced stages, it can cause severe complications, such as cerebral infarction, impaired vision, and valvular heart diseases. In the aortic tissue of TAK, there is increased infiltration of cytotoxic lymphocytes, such as natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+T cells, and enhanced expression of accessory molecules, such as major histocompatibility...