fig1

Figure 1. Model of cardiac antigen formation and activation of the DC-CD4⁺ T cell axis under pressure overload. Pressure overload induces the release of cardiac injury signals, the formation of candidate antigens, and DC-mediated antigen transport. This figure summarizes the candidate processes involving myocardial stress, DAMP release, generation of oxidatively modified antigens, DC uptake and maturation, and cardiac lymphatic drainage to the mediastinal lymph nodes. DC: Dendritic cell; ROS: reactive oxygen species; mtDNA: mitochondrial DNA; DAMPs: damage-associated molecular patterns; HMGB1: high mobility group box 1; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; CD11c: cluster of differentiation 11c; MHC II: major histocompatibility complex class II; CD80: cluster of differentiation 80; CD86: cluster of differentiation 86.