ITGAX and atherosclerosis: Given the pivotal function of DCs in initiating T lymphocyte responses in atherosclerosis and the knowledge that peripheral blood monocytes can be differentiated into DCs by exposure to inflammatory factors [13]; in the present study we investigated the expression levels of MHC Class II, CD54, CD11b, CD11c, CD83, and CD86 on the surface of monocyte-derived DCs (mDCs) in normal subjects and CAD patients with or without CAE.