title: Angiotensin II induces TSLP via an AT1 receptor/NF-KappaB pathway, promoting Th17 differentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adaptive immunity plays a critical role in atherosclerosis and hypertension. T helper 17 (Th17) cells, as a new T-cell lineage, are involved in cardiovascular diseases. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the professional antigen-presenting cells with the pivotal role in orchestrating adaptive immunity. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) can activate DCs and trigger adaptive immune responses. What the role of TSLP in atherosclerosis and hypertension has not been investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We measured the expression of TSLP in primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) exposed to angiotensin II (Ang II) and evaluated the capacity of TSLP induced by Ang II to induce the differentiation of Th17 Cells. We then sought to identify the involved upstream regulatory mechanisms. We found that VSMCs express TSLP in response to Ang II in an AT1 receptor/NF-KappaB manner. TSLP can induce the differentiation of Th17 Cells by triggering DCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through DC activation, Ang II-induced TSLP enhances Th17-driven immune response in atherosclerosis and hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yousu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Hongcheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Nilesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohabeer
authors.forename: Dazhu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006973:Hypertension / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin; C000721968:TSLP protein, rat