Deficiency of invariant V alpha 14 natural killer T cells decreases atherosclerosis in LDL receptor null mice.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells function by regulating numerous immune responses during innate and adaptive immunity. Depletion of all populations of CD1d-dependent NKT cells has been shown by several groups to reduce atherosclerosis in two different mouse models of the disease. In this study, we determined if removal of a single (V alpha 14) NKT cell population protects mice from the disease.

Methods and results

Targeted deletion of the J alpha 18 gene results in selective depletion of CD1d-dependent V alpha 14 NKT cells in C57BL/6 mice without affecting the population of other NKT, NK, and conventional T cells. Therefore, to study the effect of V alpha 14 NKT cell depletion on the progression of atherosclerosis, we examined the extent of lesion formation

SUBMITTER: Rogers L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5439367 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature