title: Role of the CX3C chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis after aortic transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The CX3C chemokine receptor CX3CR1 is expressed on monocytes as well as tissue resident cells, such as smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Its role in atherosclerotic tissue remodeling of the aorta after transplantation has not been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We here have orthotopically transplanted infrarenal Cx3cr1-/-Apoe-/- and Cx3cr1+/+Apoe-/- aortic segments into Apoe-/-mice, as well as Apoe-/- aortic segments into Cx3cr1-/-Apoe-/- mice. The intimal plaque size and cellular plaque composition of the transplanted aortic segment were analyzed after four weeks of atherogenic diet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transplantation of Cx3cr-/-Apoe-/- aortic segments into Apoe-/- mice resulted in reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation compared to plaque size in Apoe-/- or Cx3cr1-/-Apoe-/- mice after transplantation of Apoe-/- aortas. This reduction in lesion formation was associated with reduced numbers of lesional SMCs but not macrophages within the transplanted Cx3cr-/- Apoe-/- aortic segment. No differences in frequencies of proliferating and apoptotic cells could be observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that CX3CR1 on resident vessel wall cells plays a key role in atherosclerotic plaque formation in transplanted aortic grafts. Targeting of vascular CX3CL1/CX3CR1 may therefore be explored as a therapeutic option in vascular transplantation procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery and Interdisciplinary Vein Center, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr- University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.|Institute of Molecular Cardiovascular Research, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Zuzanna
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8676-0067
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rowinska
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Hospital Asklepios St. Georg Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Koeppel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Cardiovascular Research, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanati
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schelzig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Cardiovascular Research, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.|School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM), University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.affiliation: Institut for Prevention and Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease, Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zernecke
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Cardiovascular Research, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.|Human Genetic Laboratory, University for Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania.
authors.forename: Elisa A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Liehn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D020523:Chemokines, CX3C; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009000:Monocytes; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D020523:Chemokines, CX3C; C471885:Cx3cr1 protein, mouse; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine