title: Interferon-gamma produced by bone marrow-derived cells attenuates atherosclerotic lesion formation in LDLR-deficient mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the role of IFN-gamma produced by bone marrow-derived cells in atherogenesis in LDLR(-/-) mice using bone marrow transplantation (BMT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We generated IFN-gamma-deficient bone marrow transplanted LDLR(-/- )mice (IFN-gamma(-/-) BMT mice), and compared them with controls (IFN-gamma(+/+) BMT mice). These mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not differ between these two groups. After 6 weeks of HFD feeding, the atherosclerotic lesions of IFN-gamma(-/-) BMT mice were larger than those of IFN-gamma(+/+) BMT mice at the aortic sinus, aortic arch and abdominal aorta. After 12 weeks of HFD feeding, the significant differences between the two groups disappeared except for the atherosclerotic lesion in the aortic sinus. MOMA2, CD4, CD8 or alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells were detected in the atherosclerotic lesions. The cellular composition of the lesions was identical between the two groups, but the cellular density showed decreased concomitant with the increased extracellular matrix deposition in IFN-gamma(-/- )BMT mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that IFN-gamma produced by bone marrow-derived cells delays the progression of atherosclerosis without any effect on plasma lipids, and this suppression may be due to decreased extracellular matrix deposition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu City, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niwa
authors.forename: Hisayasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Hazuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirii
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Kuniaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seishima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D017931:DNA Primers; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002784:Cholesterol