Constitutive GITR Activation Reduces Atherosclerosis by Promoting Regulatory CD4+ T-Cell Responses-Brief Report

Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related protein (GITR) is expressed on CD4(+) effector memory T cells and regulatory T cells; however, its role on these functionally opposing cell types in atherosclerosis is not fully understood.

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice (Ldlr(-/-)) were lethally irradiated and reconstituted with either bone marrow from B-cell-restricted Gitrl transgenic mice or from wild-type controls and fed a high-cholesterol diet for 11 weeks. Chimeric Ldlr(-/-) Gitrl(tg) mice showed a profound increase in both CD4(+) effector memory T cells and regulatory T cells in secondary lymphoid organs. Additionally, the number of regulatory T cells was significantly enhanced in the thymus and aorta of these mice along with increased Gitrl and Il-2 transcript levels. Atherosclerotic lesions of Ldlr(-/-) Gitrl(tg) chimeras contained more total CD3(+) T cells as well as Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells overall, leading to significantly less severe atherosclerosis.

These data indicate that continuous GITR stimulation through B cell Gitrl acts protective in a mouse model of atherosclerosis by regulating the balance between regulatory and effector memory CD4(+) T cells.