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- Björkbacka, Harry, et al.
(författare)
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Emerging biomarkers and intervention targets for immune-modulation of atherosclerosis - A review of the experimental evidence.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 227:1, s. 9-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The role of inflammation in atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability is well recognized. However, it is only during recent years it has become evident that this inflammation is modulated by immune responses against plaque antigens such as oxidized LDL. Interestingly, both protective and pathogenic immune responses exist and experimental data from animal studies suggest that modulation of these immune responses represents a promising new target for treatment of cardiovascular disease. It has been proposed that during early stages of the disease, autoimmune responses against plaque antigens are controlled by regulatory T cells that inhibit the activity of auto-reactive Th1 effector T cells by release of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β. As the disease progresses this control is gradually lost and immune responses towards plaque antigens switch towards activation of Th1 effector T cells and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ, TNF-α and IL-1β. Several novel immune-modulatory therapies that promote or mimic tolerogenic immune responses against plaque antigens have demonstrated athero-protective effects in experimental models and a first generation of such immune-modulatory therapies are now in early or about to enter into clinical testing. A challenge in the clinical development of these therapies is that our knowledge of the role of the immune system in atherosclerosis largely rests on data from animal models of the disease. It is therefore critical that more attention is given to the characterization and evaluation of immune biomarkers for cardiovascular risk.
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- Dunér, Pontus, et al.
(författare)
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Immune responses against aldehyde-modified laminin accelerate atherosclerosis in Apoe(-/-) mice.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 212:2, s. 457-465
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: LDL oxidation in the vascular wall is associated with aldehyde modification of surrounding extracellular matrix proteins that may target autoimmune responses against vascular tissues. Here we investigated the possible influence of immunity against a malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified form of the basement membrane protein laminin on atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: IgM and IgG autoantibodies were present in human plasma and a prospective clinical study demonstrated that individuals who later suffered from acute cardiovascular events had lower levels of MDA-laminin antibodies compared to those in the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis of atherosclerotic plaques from Apoe(-/-) mice demonstrated co-localization between laminin and MDA epitopes, however MDA-laminin IgG was absent in mouse plasma. To determine the effect of MDA-laminin immunity, Apoe(-/-) mice were immunized with MDA-laminin. Analysis of circulating leukocytes at 12 weeks demonstrated increased T-cell activation, expansion of Th17 cells and a lower fraction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in mice immunized with MDA-laminin. At 25 weeks, aortic atherosclerosis was increased by more than 60% in mice immunized with MDA-laminin, together with increased levels of MDA-laminin IgG1 and MDA-laminin-specific T-cells expressing IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 in the spleen. CONCLUSION: The clinical observations suggest that immune responses against MDA-laminin may be involved in the development of cardiovascular disease in humans. Furthermore, observations in mice provide evidence for the presence of aldehyde-modified laminin in atherosclerotic lesions and demonstrate that induction of an immune response against these structures is associated with activation of Th17 cells, reduced fraction of Tregs and a more aggressive development of atherosclerosis.
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| 5. |
- Goncalves, Isabel, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of the target for therapeutic recombinant anti-apoB-100 peptide antibodies in human atherosclerotic lesions.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 205, s. 96-100
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: Accumulation of oxidized LDL in the arterial wall is believed to play a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. Experimental studies have identified the presence of immune responses against epitopes in oxidized LDL that protects against atherosclerosis. We have produced human recombinant IgG against one of these epitopes (aldehyde-modified apoB-100 amino acids 661-680) and demonstrated that treatment with this human IgG1 2D03 antibody markedly reduces atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mice. METHODS: In the present study, we screened a panel of 25 carotid plaques associated with clinical symptoms and 26 clinically silent plaques obtained at surgery for presence of the aldehyde-modified apoB-100 peptide defined by the 2D03 antibody and compared the expression of this epitope with other plaque constituents, plasma lipoproteins levels, plasma oxidized LDL and autoantibodies against apoB-100 peptides. RESULTS: We demonstrated that the epitope is commonly expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques and that plaques associated with clinical symptoms have an almost three-fold higher content of this epitope (8.6+/-4.9% versus 22.1+/-12.2% immunostaining of total plaque area, p<0.0005). There was also a significant association between 2D03 epitope staining and the plaque content of cholesterol esters (r=0.43, p<0.05), whereas there was no association with plasma oxidized LDL and autoantibodies against apoB-100 peptides. CONCLUSIONS: By demonstrating the presence of the 2D03 epitope in human atherosclerotic lesions our findings support the possibility that treatment with this antibody may have beneficial effects also in humans. Furthermore, they suggest the possibility to use these or other similar antibodies for diagnostic imaging of atherosclerotic plaques in humans.
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| 6. |
- Linninge, Caroline, et al.
(författare)
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Probiotic therapy to men with incipient arteriosclerosis initiates increased bacterial diversity in colon: A randomized controlled trial.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 208, s. 228-233
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the microbial change in the intestinal microbiota in patients, with cardiovascular disease, consuming a drink with high numbers of live Lactobacillus plantarum. METHODS: Sixteen males, with atherosclerotic plaque on the carotid wall, were randomly selected from a larger cohort and included in this double blind, placebo controlled study. Colonic biopsies, taken before and after four weeks of probiotic treatment, were analysed with Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, including digestion with MspI and HaeIII. Microbial diversity was calculated, short-chain fatty acids in faeces, and blood markers were analysed. RESULTS: Consumption of one probiotic strain of L. plantarum (DSM 9843) increased intestinal microbial diversity. The probiotic group had an increased diversity after consumption of the probiotic drink compared to the change in the placebo group when Shannon and Weaner diversity index (MspI and HaeIII, p=0.026) and Simpson index of diversity (MspI, p=0.044 and HaeIII, p=0.026) were calculated. The fermentation pattern of short-chain fatty acids in faeces were unaffected for most acids, but the probiotic group had decreased concentration of isovaleric acid (p=0.006) and valeric acid (p=0.029). Viable count of lactobacilli increased in the probiotic group (p=0.001), but no significant changes in blood markers were observed. CONCLUSION: Administration of a single-strain probiotic increases the bacterial diversity in the gut, and affects the concentration of some short-chain fatty acids. Consumption of the single strain L. plantarum DSM 9843 might be a strategy to favour a diverse intestinal microbiota, which is beneficial for the host.
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| 7. |
- McLeod, Olga, et al.
(författare)
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Plasma autoantibodies against apolipoprotein B-100 peptide 210 in subclinical atherosclerosis.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 232:1, s. 242-248
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Experimental studies have suggested that autoimmunity is involved in atherosclerosis and provided evidence that both protective and pro-atherogenic immune responses exist. This concept has received support from small clinical studies implicating autoantibodies directed against apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) in human atherosclerosis. We examined circulating autoantibodies directed against native and malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified epitope p210 of apoB-100 (IgG-p210nat and IgM-p210MDA) in relation to early atherosclerosis in a large, European longitudinal cohort study of healthy high-risk individuals.
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| 9. |
- Rattik, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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IL-22 affects smooth muscle cell phenotype and plaque formation in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 242:2, s. 506-514
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IL-22 is a recently discovered cytokine that belongs to the family of IL-10 related cytokines. It is produced by activated T-cells and innate lymphoid cells and has been suggested to be involved in tissue repair. As both inflammation and repair play important roles in atherosclerosis we investigated if IL-22 deficiency influences the disease process in Apoe(-/-) mice.
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| 10. |
- Stollenwerk, Maria M, et al.
(författare)
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Very low density lipoprotein potentiates tumor necrosis factor-α expression in macrophages
- 2005
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. - 0021-9150 .- 1879-1484. ; 179:2, s. 247-254
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High levels of the triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) have been identified as independent risk factors for coronary heart disease, and inflammation is thought to contribute to atherosclerosis and its complications. To understand how dyslipidemia promotes inflammation, we have characterised the effects of VLDL treatment on production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) by human monocyte-derived macrophages. VLDL strongly potentiated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of TNF mRNA and secretion of TNF protein. VLDL activated mitogen-activated protein kinase-ERK kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), and potentiated LPS-induced MEK1/2 activation. The MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 strongly diminished TNF expression, indicating that MEK1/2 plays a central role in the regulation of TNF expression. VLDL did not activate transcription factors NF-κB and PPAR-γ, but it activated AP-1 at least as potently as LPS, and potentiated LPS-induced activation of AP-1. The inhibitor U0126 completely prevented this potentiation. Inhibition of AP-1 by decoy oligonucleotides abolished potentiation of TNF secretion by VLDL. In conclusion, VLDL treatment potentiates TNF expression in macrophages by activation of MEK1/2 and AP-1. These findings suggest that triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins are involved in inflammatory processes associated with atherosclerosis.
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