title: Increased Th9 cells and IL-9 levels accelerate disease progression in experimental atherosclerosis.
abstract: Atherosclerosis (AS) is the number one killer in developed countries, and currently considered a chronic inflammatory disease. The central role of T cells in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is well documented. However, little is known about the newly described T cell subset-Th9 cells and their role in AS pathogenesis. Here, the amounts of Th9 cells as well as their key transcription factors and relevant cytokines during atherosclerosis were assessed in ApoE-/-mice and age-matched C57BL/6J mice. Significantly increased Th9 cell number, Th9 related cytokine (IL-9), and key transcription factor (PU.1) were found in ApoE-/-mice compared with age-matched C57BL/6J mice. Additionally, treatment with rIL-9 accelerated atherosclerotic development, which was attenuated by anti-IL-9 antibodies. These data suggested that both Th9 cells and related IL-9 play key roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and antibodies against these antigens offer a novel therapeutic approach in AS treatment.
authors.affiliation: The Central Laboratory of Medical Research Center, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui, PR China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Central Laboratory of Medical Research Center, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui, PR China.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.affiliation: Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Yuanmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Central Laboratory of Medical Research Center, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui, PR China.
authors.forename: Shaowei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: The Central Laboratory of Medical Research Center, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui, PR China.
authors.forename: Chaojie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: The Central Laboratory of Medical Research Center, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui, PR China.
authors.forename: Cuiping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Western Clinical School, University of Sydney Westmead, NSW Australia.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Transplantation and Renal Research, Western Clinical School, University of Sydney Westmead, NSW Australia.
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Atherosclerosis; IL-9; Th9 cells; inflammation