A major obstacle to intravital visualization of inflammatory processes within large arteries is the motion of vessels that occurs near the beating heart. In this issue, Quintar et al. apply ILTIS, the German word for the European polecat that serves as an acronym for Intravital Live-cell Triggered Imaging System, to capture the most sophisticated images of inflammatory cell dynamics in the arterial vasculature to date, by timing data acquisition to a consistent point in every heartbeat. The authors show that patrolling nonclassical monocytes scan endothelium in plaque-prone areas, much as they have been described to elsewhere. The inability of these monocytes to patrol arteries leads to heightened endothelial damage within the artery. In this way, nonclassical monocytes safeguard against plaque development and progression.
Keywords: Editorials; atherosclerosis; endothelium; heart; macrophages; monocyte.