TY - JOUR
T1 - Leukocyte-Specific CCL3 Deficiency Inhibits Atherosclerotic Lesion Development by Affecting Neutrophil Accumulation
AU - de Jager, Saskia C. A.
AU - Bot, Ilze
AU - Kraaijeveld, Adriaan O.
AU - Korporaal, Suzanne J. A.
AU - Bot, Martine
AU - van Santbrink, Peter J.
AU - van Berkel, Theo J. C.
AU - Kuiper, Johan
AU - Biessen, Erik A. L.
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Objective-Despite common disbelief that neutrophils are involved in atherosclerosis, evidence is accumulating for a causal role of neutrophils in atherosclerosis. CC chemokine ligand (CCL)3 is an inflammatory chemokine and its expression is significantly increased during atherosclerotic lesion formation in mice. It has recently been shown that under conditions of inflammation neutrophils can migrate along a CCL3 gradient. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of leukocyte-derived CCL3 in atherogenesis. Methods and Results-Irradiated low density lipoprotein receptor(-/-) mice, reconstituted with CCL3(-/-) or littermate bone marrow showed markedly reduced CCL3 response to lipopolysaccharide treatment, establishing the critical relevance of leukocytes as source of CCL3. Hematopoietic deficiency of CCL3 significantly reduced aortic sinus lesion formation by 31% after 12 weeks of western-type diet. Interestingly, whereas plaque macrophage, collagen, and vascular smooth muscle cell content were unchanged, neutrophil adhesion to and presence in plaques was significantly attenuated in CCL3(-/-) chimeras. These mice had reduced circulating neutrophil numbers, which could be ascribed to an increased neutrophil turnover and CCL3(-/-) neutrophils were shown to be less responsive toward the neutrophil chemoattractant CXC chemokine ligand 1. Conclusion-Our data indicate that under conditions of acute inflammation leukocyte-derived CCL3 can induce neutrophil chemotaxis toward the atherosclerotic plaque, thereby accelerating lesion formation. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013;33:e75-e83.)
AB - Objective-Despite common disbelief that neutrophils are involved in atherosclerosis, evidence is accumulating for a causal role of neutrophils in atherosclerosis. CC chemokine ligand (CCL)3 is an inflammatory chemokine and its expression is significantly increased during atherosclerotic lesion formation in mice. It has recently been shown that under conditions of inflammation neutrophils can migrate along a CCL3 gradient. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of leukocyte-derived CCL3 in atherogenesis. Methods and Results-Irradiated low density lipoprotein receptor(-/-) mice, reconstituted with CCL3(-/-) or littermate bone marrow showed markedly reduced CCL3 response to lipopolysaccharide treatment, establishing the critical relevance of leukocytes as source of CCL3. Hematopoietic deficiency of CCL3 significantly reduced aortic sinus lesion formation by 31% after 12 weeks of western-type diet. Interestingly, whereas plaque macrophage, collagen, and vascular smooth muscle cell content were unchanged, neutrophil adhesion to and presence in plaques was significantly attenuated in CCL3(-/-) chimeras. These mice had reduced circulating neutrophil numbers, which could be ascribed to an increased neutrophil turnover and CCL3(-/-) neutrophils were shown to be less responsive toward the neutrophil chemoattractant CXC chemokine ligand 1. Conclusion-Our data indicate that under conditions of acute inflammation leukocyte-derived CCL3 can induce neutrophil chemotaxis toward the atherosclerotic plaque, thereby accelerating lesion formation. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013;33:e75-e83.)
KW - atherosclerosis
KW - chemokines
KW - inflammation
KW - neutrophils
U2 - 10.1161/ATVBAHA.112.300857
DO - 10.1161/ATVBAHA.112.300857
M3 - Article
C2 - 23288165
SN - 1079-5642
VL - 33
SP - e75–e83
JO - Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
JF - Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
IS - 3
ER -