Heterogeneity of Tregs and the complexity in the IL-12 cytokine family signaling in driving T-cell immune responses in atherosclerotic vessels

• Immune inflammation plays important role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.
• Heterogeneity and plasticity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is a feature of atherogenesis.
• Accumulated evidence indicates the importance of the IL-12 cytokine family in regulation of Tregs in atherogenesis.

The importance of immune inflammation in the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions is well recognized. Accumulated evidence shows striking features of heterogeneity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the importance of the IL-12 cytokine family in regulation of Tregs in atherogenesis. The present review briefly summarized the current knowledge about the impact of the IL-12 cytokine family in regulation of immune processes in atherogenesis.