biostudies-literatureKnox JJNIAID NIH HHSNHLBI NIH HHSNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute317-324https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11952879biostudies-literatureUnknown214(3)The humoral immune system influences the development of atherosclerosis, but the contributions of specific memory B cell subsets and IgG isotypes are poorly understood. We assessed the relationship between atherosclerosis and age-associated B cells (ABCs), a T-bet-expressing memory B cell subset that is enriched for IgG2c production and implicated in humoral autoimmunity. We found increased numbers of splenic CD11c+ ABCs in 6-mo-old, chow-fed Apoe-/- mice versus C57BL/6 control mice, which were exacerbated by high-fat diet. Deletion of T-bet in the B lineage in high-fat diet-fed Apoe-/- mice reduced aortic lesion area, and this correlated with decreased splenic CD11c+ B cells and reduced serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein-specific IgG2c. Our findings suggest that T-bet-expressing B celJournal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)T-bet-expressing B cells promote atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.PMC11952879T32 AI055428T32 HL007954T32 HL07954Rader DJCancro MPCromley DPure EKarolyi KKnox JJMonslow JfalseT-bet-expressing B cells promote atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.The humoral immune system influences the development of atherosclerosis, but the contributions of specific memory B cell subsets and IgG isotypes are poorly understood. We assessed the relationship between atherosclerosis and age-associated B cells (ABCs), a T-bet-expressing memory B cell subset that is enriched for IgG2c production and implicated in humoral autoimmunity. We found increased numbers of splenic CD11c+ ABCs in 6-mo-old, chow-fed Apoe-/- mice versus C57BL/6 control mice, which were exacerbated by high-fat diet. Deletion of T-bet in the B lineage in high-fat diet-fed Apoe-/- mice reduced aortic lesion area, and this correlated with decreased splenic CD11c+ B cells and reduced serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein-specific IgG2c. Our findings suggest that T-bet-expressing B cel2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2026-07-16T23:07:35.397Z2026-07-12T03:10:41.366ZS-EPMC119528794007309710.1093/jimmun/vkae027