Immunoglobulin treatment reduces atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-/- low-density lipoprotein receptor-/- mice via the complement system.

• Atherosclerosis is associated with activation of the immune system. Intravenously applied normal polyclonal immunoglobulins (IVIg) have broad therapeutic applications in the treatment of autoimmune and systemic inflammatory diseases. Recently, IVIg have been shown to inhibit atherogenesis in experimental animal models. To investigate the role of the complement system in this process, we used third complement component-deficient (C3(-/-)) and control atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) double knock-out mice fed a normal diet. IVIg treatment reduced lesion fraction area in the aortic root of complement-sufficient mice whereas the lesion fraction area of C3(-/-) mice was not affected. Thus, complement activation plays a role in the anti-atherosclerotic effects of IVIg, possibly by C3-derived fragments generated through Fc-dependent complement activation.

Keyword

Animals

Apolipoproteins E

immunology

Arteriosclerosis

immunology

Complement Activation

immunology

Complement C3

deficiency

immunology

Disease Models

Animal

Immunoglobulins

Intravenous

administration & dosage

immunology

Immunohistochemistry

methods

Injections

Intraperitoneal

Macrophages

immunology

Male

Mice

Mice

Knockout

Monocytes

immunology

Receptors

IgG

immunology

Receptors

Lipoprotein

immunology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)