Sterile inflammation in the spleen during atherosclerosis provides oxidation-specific epitopes that induce a protective B-cell response.

ABSTRACT: The B-cell response in atherosclerosis is directed toward oxidation-specific epitopes such as phosphorylcholine (PC) that arise during disease-driven oxidation of self-antigens. PC-bearing antigens have been used to induce atheroprotective antibodies against modified low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL), leading to plaque reduction. Previous studies have found that B-cell transfer from aged atherosclerotic mice confers protection to young mice, but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we dissected the atheroprotective response in the spleen and found an ongoing germinal center reaction, accumulation of antibody-forming cells, and inflammasome activation in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (Apoe(-/-)). Specific B-cell clone expansion involved the heavy chain variable region (Vh) 5 and Vh7 B-cell rece

SUBMITTER: Grasset EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4413266 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature