CCR5+T-bet+FoxP3+ Effector CD4 T Cells Drive Atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

CD4 T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but atherosclerosis-specific CD4 T cells have not been described. Moreover, the chemokine(s) that regulates T-cell trafficking to the atherosclerotic lesions is also unknown.

Objective

In Apoe(-/-) mice with mature atherosclerotic lesions (5 months of high fat diet), we find that most aortic T cells express CCR5 and interferon-γ with a unique combination of cell surface markers (CD4(+)CD25(-)CD44(hi)CD62L(lo)) and transcription factors (FoxP3(+)T-bet(+)). We call these cells CCR5Teff. We investigated the role of CCR5 in regulating T-cell homing to the atherosclerotic aorta and the functionality of the CCR5Teff cells.

Methods and results

CCR5Teff cells are exclusively found in the aorta and para

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4867125 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature