Abstract
Tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) emerge during non-resolving peripheral inflammation, but their impact on disease progression remains unknown. We have found in aged Apoe(-/-) mice that artery TLOs (ATLOs) controlled highly territorialized aorta T cell responses. ATLOs promoted T cell recruitment, primed CD4(+) T cells, generated CD4(+), CD8(+), T regulatory (Treg) effector and central memory cells, converted naive CD4(+) T cells into induced Treg cells, and presented antigen by an unusual set of dendritic cells and B cells. Meanwhile, vascular smooth muscle cell lymphotoxin beta receptors (VSMC-LT beta Rs) protected against atherosclerosis by maintaining structure, cellularity, and size of ATLOs though VSMC-LT beta Rs did not affect secondary lymphoid organs: Atherosclerosis was markedly exacerbated in Apoe(-/-)Ltbr(-/-) and to a similar extent in aged Apoe(-/-)Ltbr(fl/fl)Tagln-cre mice. These data support the conclusion that the immune system employs ATLOs to organize aorta T cell homeostasis during aging and that VSMC-LT beta Rs participate in atherosclerosis protection via ATLOs.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1100-1115 |
Journal | Immunity |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 16 Jun 2015 |