Given that antigen-specific immune mechanism could be initiated by both CCL17+ DCs and pDCs [23, 46], ex vivo loading of DCs with antigen or the targeting of DC receptors for delivery of antigen to (these) specific DC subsets may be explored in atherosclerosis, similar to approaches for treatment of cancer, where specific humoral and cellular responses could be evoked by vaccination strategies and have evolved as viable therapeutic options [68, 69]. This evidence concerns the gene CCL17 and atherosclerosis.