T helper type 1 lymphocytes drive inflammation in human atherosclerotic lesions.
Atherosclerotic lesions are infiltrated by macrophages and T lymphocytes, potentially reactive to pathogens. We studied in vivo activated T lymphocytes that infiltrate atherosclerotic plaques of Helicobacter pylori-infected patients with or without anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies. In all atherosclerotic lesions, T helper type 1 (Th1) cells were predominant. C. pneumoniae-specific T cells were detected only in the plaques of anti-C. pneumoniae seropositive patients, whereas H. pylori-specific T cells were found in the gastric mucosa but not in the plaques of the same patients. Plaque-derived Th1 cells expressed cytotoxicity, proapoptotic activity, and help for monocyte tissue factor production. Although multifactorial, atherosclerosis can be regarded as a Th1-driven immunopathological condition.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, Italy.
Marisa
M
Benagiano
Annalisa
A
Azzurri
Alessandra
A
Ciervo
Amedeo
A
Amedei
Carlo
C
Tamburini
Mauro
M
Ferrari
John L
JL
Telford
Cosima T
CT
Baldari
Sergio
S
Romagnani
Antonio
A
Cassone
Mario M
MM
D'Elios
Gianfranco
G
Del Prete
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial