The Th17/Treg functional imbalance during atherogenesis in ApoE−/− mice

J Xie, J Wang, T Tang, J Chen, X Gao, J Yuan, Z Zhou… - Cytokine, 2010 - Elsevier
J Xie, J Wang, T Tang, J Chen, X Gao, J Yuan, Z Zhou, M Liao, R Yao, X Yu, D Wang…
Cytokine, 2010Elsevier
Objective: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease regulated by T lymphocyte
subsets. Recently, CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th17 cells have been
described as two distinct subsets and have the opposite effects on autoimmunity. Clinical
observation has revealed that the Th17/Treg imbalance exists in patients with acute
coronary syndrome. We investigated whether the Th17/Treg functional imbalance existed
during atherogenesis in ApoE−/− mice. Methods and results: Th17/Treg functions at different …
Objective
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease regulated by T lymphocyte subsets. Recently, CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th17 cells have been described as two distinct subsets and have the opposite effects on autoimmunity. Clinical observation has revealed that the Th17/Treg imbalance exists in patients with acute coronary syndrome. We investigated whether the Th17/Treg functional imbalance existed during atherogenesis in ApoE−/− mice.
Methods and results
Th17/Treg functions at different levels including cell frequencies, related cytokine secretion and key transcription factors were investigated comparatively between ApoE−/− mice and their age-matched C57BL/6J mice. The results demonstrated that ApoE−/− mice revealed significantly increased secretion of Th17 related cytokines (IL-17 and IL-6) and expression of transcription factor (RORγt) levels and obviously decreased number in Treg cells, secretion of Treg related cytokines (TGF-β1) and expression of transcription factor (Foxp3) levels as compared with age-matched C57BL/6J mice. Th17 related mediators reached their maximum expression values at the early stage (8–16weeks of age) in ApoE−/− mice, and then followed by continuous depression of their expression levels. Meanwhile, the expression of Treg related mediators was much lower in ApoE−/− mice than in their age-matched wild-type littermates.
Conclusions
Th17/Treg functional imbalance exists during atherogenesis in ApoE−/− mice, suggesting a potential role of Th17/Treg imbalance in the formation and progression of atherosclerosis.
Elsevier