1. The aorta can act as site of naïve CD4+ T cell priming
- Author
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MacRitchie, Neil, Grassia, Gianluca, Noonan, Jonathan, Cole, Jennifer E., Hughes, Catherine E., Schroeder, Juliane, Benson, Robert A., Cochain, Clement, Zernecke, Alma, Guzik, Tomasz J., Garside, Paul, Monaco, Claudia, and Maffia, Pasquale
- Subjects
cardiovascular system - Abstract
Aims:\ud \ud Aortic adaptive immunity plays a role in atherosclerosis; however, the precise mechanisms leading to T-cell activation in the arterial wall remain poorly understood.\ud Methods and results:\ud \ud Here, we have identified naïve T cells in the aorta of wild-type and T-cell receptor transgenic mice and we demonstrate that naïve T cells can be primed directly in the vessel wall with both kinetics and frequency of T-cell activation found to be similar to splenic and lymphoid T cells. Aortic homing of naïve T cells is regulated at least in part by the P-selectin glycosylated ligand-1 receptor. In experimental atherosclerosis the aorta supports CD4+ T-cell activation selectively driving Th1 polarization. By contrast, secondary lymphoid organs display Treg expansion.\ud Conclusion:\ud \ud Our results demonstrate that the aorta can support T-cell priming and that naïve T cells traffic between the circulation and vessel wall. These data underpin the paradigm that local priming of T cells specific for plaque antigens contributes to atherosclerosis progression.
- Published
- 2020