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Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus
Published on: December 7, 2013
Immunoglobulin treatment reduces atherosclerosis in apo E knockout mice
A Nicoletti1, S Kaveri, G Caligiuri
1Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, S-17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|September 3, 1998
Summary
Intravenous immunoglobulin (ivIg) therapy significantly reduced atherosclerosis development in mice. This immunomodulation approach effectively targets both early and later stages of the disease by impacting immune cells and antibody production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Atherosclerosis involves immune activation, with T cells and macrophages infiltrating plaques.
- Autoantibodies to oxidized lipoproteins correlate with atherosclerosis progression.
- Genetic models like apo E knockout mice demonstrate the role of immune components in lesion formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of immune modulation in adult animals on atherosclerosis development.
- To evaluate the efficacy of polyclonal immunoglobulin preparations (ivIg) in a mouse model of atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Administered ivIg to 7-week-old male apo E knockout mice on a cholesterol diet.
- Assessed lesion formation after 2 and 4 months of diet treatment.
- Measured IgM antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and T cell activity.
Main Results:
- ivIg treatment reduced fatty streak formation by 35% over 2 months.
- Fibrofatty lesions were reduced by 50% in mice receiving ivIg after 2 months on diet.
- ivIg decreased antibodies to oxidized LDL and inactivated spleen and lymph node T cells.
Conclusions:
- ivIg effectively inhibits atherosclerosis in adult apo E knockout mice.
- Treatment is effective during both early fatty streak and later plaque stages.
- ivIg may exert its effects by modulating T cell activity and/or antibody production, suggesting immunomodulation as a therapeutic strategy.
