Lymphocytes are important in early atherosclerosis
Li Song, … , Cynthia Leung, Christian Schindler
Li Song, … , Cynthia Leung, Christian Schindler
Published July 15, 2001
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2001;108(2):251-259. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI11380.
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Article

Lymphocytes are important in early atherosclerosis

Abstract

Lymphocytes represent a potentially important proinflammatory cell that localizes to atherosclerotic lesions. To determine whether they contribute to lesion development, atherosclerosis-prone (LDLR–/–) mice were crossed with lymphocyte-deficient (RAG1–/–) mice to generate double knockout progeny. After 8 weeks on a Western-type diet (WTD), lesion development was reduced by 54% in double knockout mice, as compared with matched LDLR–/– controls. However, these significant differences in lesion area gradually subsided as the WTD was continued for 12 and 16 weeks. Consistent with this observation, histological studies determined that lesion initiation and early progression were delayed in RAG1/LDL-R double knockout mice. Differences in lesion area did not correlate with any significant alterations in plasma lipid levels. These studies suggest that lymphocytes play an important role early in atherogenesis.

Authors

Li Song, Cynthia Leung, Christian Schindler

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Collagen contents in the atherosclerotic lesions in LDL-R knockout and R...
Collagen contents in the atherosclerotic lesions in LDL-R knockout and RAG1/LDL-R double knockout mice. Representative atherosclerotic lesions from the aortic root of LDL-R ko (a–c) and RAG1/LDL-R dko (d–f) mice, fed a WTD for either 8 weeks (a, b, d and e) or 16 weeks (c and f) are presented. Specimens were prepared either as paraffin sections (a, b, d and e) or frozen sections (c and f), and stained either with H&E (a and d) or Trichrome (b, c, e, and f). Collagen, which is stained blue by Trichrome, was quantitated in serial sections in both study groups at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. The average collagen content per square millimeter of lesion area is presented in g. LDL-R knockout mice are represented by open bars and RAG1/LDL-R dko mice by filled bars. Error bars reflect differences in collagen content between individual mice in each group. Collagen content is significantly lower in dko mice at 8 weeks (**P < 0.01, by Mann-Whitney U test) and 16 weeks (*P < 0.05, by Mann-Whitney U test).