The enhanced expression of IL-17-secreting T cells during the early progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice fed on a western-type diet.
- Author:
Un Sil JEON
1
;
Jun Pyo CHOI
;
You Sun KIM
;
Sung Ho RYU
;
Yoon Keun KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- MeSH: Animals; Aorta/metabolism/*pathology; Apolipoproteins E/*genetics; Atherosclerosis/etiology/*genetics/immunology/*pathology; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects; Gene Deletion; Interferon-gamma/genetics; Interleukin-17/*genetics/immunology; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism/pathology; Up-Regulation
- From:Experimental & Molecular Medicine 2015;47(5):e163-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory disorder and the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Here we assessed the dynamic changes of T-cell-derived cytokines, such as inteferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-4, during the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-null (ApoE(-/-)) mice, to understand the role of immune responses in different stages of atherosclerosis. Male ApoE(-/-) mice were fed a high-fat, western-type diet (WD: 21% lipid, 1.5% cholesterol) after 5 weeks of age and were compared with C57BL/6 wild-type control mice fed a standard chow diet. Atherosclerotic lesions appeared in the aortic sinus of ApoE(-/-) mice 4 weeks after WD and the lesions progressed and occupied >50% of the total sinus area 16 weeks after WD. Aortic IL-17 mRNA and protein expression started to increase in ApoE(-/-) mice after 4 weeks on the WD and peaked at around 8-12 weeks on the WD. In terms of systemic expression of T-cell-derived cytokines, IL-17 production from splenocytes after anti-CD3/CD28 stimuli increased from 4 weeks on the WD, peaked at 12 weeks and returned to control levels at 16 weeks. The production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 (Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively) from splenocytes was delayed compared with IL-17. Taken together, the present data indicate that Th17 cell response may be involved at an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis.
