Programmed death-1 inhibition and atherosclerosis: can nivolumab vanish complicated atheromatous plaques?

Atherosclerosis is considered to be a T-cell-driven disease since the interaction between resident cells, immune cells and their products has been recognized to promote the development of atheromatous plaques in the arterial walls [1]. The process of atherosclerosis evolves from a prelesional phase, which is potentially reversible, to complicated lesions characterized by the formation of a fibrous cap and vulnerable plaques, followed by possible rupture and atherothrombosis [2].