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Th17 cells and IL-17 are involved in the disruption of vulnerable plaques triggered by short-term combination stimulation in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 10, pages 338–348 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Considerable evidence indicates that type 1 T helper (Th1)- and Th17-mediated immune responses promote the formation of atherosclerotic plaques while that CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a protective effect. However, the functions of diverse CD4+ lymphocyte subsets in plaque rupture remain poorly understood because of a shortage of satisfactory plaque rupture models. Here, we established a murine model of atherosclerotic plaque rupture using a high-fat diet and collar placement on the carotid artery, and triggered plaque rupture by short-term stimulation with a combination of lipopolysaccharide, phenylephrine injection and cold in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE−/−) mice. We investigated the associations between Th1 cells, Th17 cells and Tregs and plaque rupture by PCR, flow cytometry, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. In total, 75% (18/24) of vulnerable plaques, but no stable plaques, showed rupture characteristics. The proportion of Th17 cells was increased among splenocytes after treatment, but the changes in the levels of Th1 cells and Tregs were not related to rupture. Furthermore, the treatment resulted in high levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the serum and in the region of plaque rupture. In vitro, IL-17 increased the level of apoptosis, a major factor associated with plaque rupture, in cultured murine vascular smooth muscle cells. Th17 cells and IL-17 may be involved in the disruption of vulnerable plaques triggered by short-term stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, phenylephrine injection and cold in ApoE−/−mice.

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Acknowledgements

Our study was supported by the National ‘973’ Program of China (2011CB503900), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30628015, 30700729, and 30872309) and Natural Science foundation of Shandong (Z2008C02).

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  1. Dr LN Zhang, Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China. E-mail: zhanglining@sdu.edu.cn

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine and Jinan, China

    Tian Ma, Qi Gao, Faliang Zhu, Chun Guo, Qun Wang & Lining Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China

    Fei Gao

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Ma, T., Gao, Q., Zhu, F. et al. Th17 cells and IL-17 are involved in the disruption of vulnerable plaques triggered by short-term combination stimulation in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice. Cell Mol Immunol 10, 338–348 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2013.4

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