title: The enhanced expression of IL-17-secreting T cells during the early progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice fed on a western-type diet.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory disorder and the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Here we assessed the dynamic changes of T-cell-derived cytokines, such as inteferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-4, during the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-null (ApoE(-/-)) mice, to understand the role of immune responses in different stages of atherosclerosis. Male ApoE(-/-) mice were fed a high-fat, western-type diet (WD: 21% lipid, 1.5% cholesterol) after 5 weeks of age and were compared with C57BL/6 wild-type control mice fed a standard chow diet. Atherosclerotic lesions appeared in the aortic sinus of ApoE(-/-) mice 4 weeks after WD and the lesions progressed and occupied >50% of the total sinus area 16 weeks after WD. Aortic IL-17 mRNA and protein expression started to increase in ApoE(-/-) mice after 4 weeks on the WD and peaked at around 8-12 weeks on the WD. In terms of systemic expression of T-cell-derived cytokines, IL-17 production from splenocytes after anti-CD3/CD28 stimuli increased from 4 weeks on the WD, peaked at 12 weeks and returned to control levels at 16 weeks. The production of IFN-γ and IL-4 (Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively) from splenocytes was delayed compared with IL-17. Taken together, the present data indicate that Th17 cell response may be involved at an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular and Life Science, Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Un Sil
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Convergence Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Pyo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: You-Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular and Life Science, Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Convergence Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D017353:Gene Deletion; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007371:Interferon-gamma