Search

Purpose: Inflammation promotes plaque progression in atherosclerosis. Dendritic cells (DC) play a crucial role in the regulation of the immune system. However, the effect of DCs on immune response depends on their maturation state, with mature DCs enhancing and immature DCs attenuating the inflammatory process. We investigated the effects of MCS-18, which inhibits DC maturation, on the progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice. Methods: ApoE-deficient mice were fed a Western-type diet (n=32) or normal chow (control group; n=16) for 12 weeks. MCS-18 (500μg/kg body weight, n=16) or saline (n=16) was given twice a week during the time period of Western-type diet. After 12 weeks, blood was collected from anesthetized animals by cardiac puncture. Mice were perfused transcardially, whereafter the aortic arch was isolated. Flow cytometry was used to quantify mature DCs (lin-CD11c+HLA-DR+CD80+/CD83+/CD86+) and regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+) in the spleen. Plaque size of the aortic arch was evaluated by enface staining. Luminex-based assays served to detect concentrations of 32 inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in serum. Results: Induced atherosclerosis led to a significant increase in the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on DCs (CD80+DCs: p