Atherosclerosis-Driven Treg Plasticity Results in Formation of a Dysfunctional Subset of Plastic IFNγ+ Th1/Tregs.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Forkhead box P3⁺ T regulatory cells (Tregs) are key players in maintaining immune homeostasis. Evidence suggests that Tregs respond to environmental cues to permit or suppress inflammation. In atherosclerosis, Th1-driven inflammation affects Treg homeostasis, but the mechanisms governing this phenomenon are unclear.

Objective

Here, we address whether atherosclerosis impacts Treg plasticity and functionality in Apoe^-/- mice, and what effect Treg plasticity might have on the pathology of atherosclerosis.

Methods and results

We demonstrate that atherosclerosis promotes Treg plasticity, resulting in the reduction of CXCR3⁺ Tregs and the accumulation of an intermediate Th1-like interferon (IFN)-γ⁺CCR5^+</

SUBMITTER: Butcher MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5242312 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature