<i>Ex vivo</i> expanded human regulatory T cells promote cholesterol efflux and PON1 expression in oxLDL-exposed macrophages via gap junction-mediated cAMP transfer.

ABSTRACT: Lipid-driven inflammation contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been proposed to influence macrophage responses to lipid stress. While adoptive Treg transfer has been shown to be safe in clinical studies, the mechanisms by which Tregs modulate macrophage lipid handling remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of ex vivo-expanded human Tregs on primary monocyte-derived M2-like macrophages exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in an in vitro coculture system. We assessed macrophage phenotype, gene expression, and cholesterol accumulation using flow cytometry, RNA sequencing, and western blotting. Our data show that coculture with Tregs attenuated oxLDL-induced pro-inflammatory respo

SUBMITTER: Albany CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12571657 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature