Differential expression of interleukin-17 family cytokines in intact and complicated human atherosclerotic plaques.
In addition to the classical TH1 and TH2 cytokines, members of the recently identified IL-17 cytokine family play an important role in regulating cellular and humoral immune responses. At present nothing is known about the role of these cytokines in atherosclerosis. Expression of IL-17A, -E and -F was investigated in atherosclerotic tissue by rtPCR and immunohistochemistry. IL-17E and its receptor were further studied in cultured smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, using rtPCR and western blot. rtPCR showed that IL-17A, -E and -F were expressed in the majority of plaques under investigation. IL-17A/F was expressed by mast cells in all stages of plaque development. IL-17A/F(+) neutrophils were always observed in complicated plaques, but hardly in intact lesions. IL-17A/F(+) Tcells ('TH17') were never observed. IL-17E was expressed by smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in both normal and atherosclerotic arteries, and in advanced plaques also extensively by mature B cells. Cultured smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells were found to express both IL-17E and its functional receptor (IL-17RB). The constitutive expression of IL-17E by resident plaque cells, and the additional presence of IL-17E(+) B cells and IL-17A/F(+) neutrophils in advanced and complicated plaques indicates a complex contribution of IL-17 family cytokines in human atherosclerosis, depending on the stage and activity of the disease.
de Boer
Onno J
OJ
Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. o.j.deboer@amc.uva.nl
van der Meer
Jelger J
JJ
Teeling
Peter
P
van der Loos
Chris M
CM
Idu
Mirza M
MM
van Maldegem
Febe
F
Aten
Jan
J
van der Wal
Allard C
AC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000276:immunology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
C408922:IL17RB protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020381:Interleukin-17; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17