Infusion of Induced Regulatory T Cells Alleviates Atherosclerosis by Reducing Pathological Macrophage-Like Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

ABSTRACT: Atherosclerosis remains the primary driver of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. A pivotal event in its pathogenesis is the phenotypic conversion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), particularly the transition from a contractile to a macrophage-like state. Using a murine model of atherosclerosis, we demonstrate that this process is orchestrated by a progressively disrupted perivascular immune milieu characterized by an expansion of CD44⁺ memory CD4⁺ T cells at the expense of CD44^- naive CD4⁺ T cells. Within this niche, CD44⁺ natural regulatory T cells (nTregs) actively promote VSMCs macrophage-like reprogramming, whereas their CD44^- counterparts exert an opposing, protective effect. Reciprocally, macrophage-like VSMCs foster the trans-dif

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12547077 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature