title: Interleukin-17 deficiency reduced vascular inflammation and development of atherosclerosis in Western diet-induced apoE-deficient mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several reports describe the role of interleukin (IL)-17 in the development of atherosclerosis; however, its precise role remains controversial. We generated double-deficient mice for apolipoprotein E (apoE) and IL-17 (apoE(-/-)IL-17(-/-) mice) and investigated the effect of IL-17 deficiency on vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atherosclerotic plaque areas in apoE(-/-)IL-17(-/-) mice fed a Western diet (WD) were significantly reduced compared with those in apoE(-/-) mice. No significant differences in plasma lipid profiles were observed between apoE(-/-) and apoE(-/-)IL-17(-/-) mice. The number of infiltrated macrophages in the plaques was significantly decreased in WD-fed apoE(-/-)IL-17(-/-) mice compared with WD-fed apoE(-/-) mice, whereas vascular smooth muscle cell content was not altered by IL-17 deficiency. Expression of inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-12 p40) and scavenger receptors (Msr-1, Scarb1, and Olr1) in the plaques was inhibited in WD-fed apoE(-/-)IL-17(-/-) mice. Furthermore, expression of inducible nitric oxide (M1 marker) and arginase-1 (M2 marker) was inhibited in WD-fed apoE(-/-)IL-17(-/-) mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that IL-17 deficiency reduces vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis and that modulation of IL-17 could be a potential target for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioimaging Sciences, Center for Molecular Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumitake
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohshiro
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Akiyo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Yo-Ichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwakura
authors.forename: Shun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17