Role of the CX3C chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis after aortic transplantation

  • \(\bf Background\) The CX3C chemokine receptor CX3CR1 is expressed on monocytes as well as tissue resident cells, such as smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Its role in atherosclerotic tissue remodeling of the aorta after transplantation has not been investigated. \(\bf Methods\) We here have orthotopically transplanted infrarenal \(Cx3cr1^{-/-}\) \(Apoe^{-/-}\) and \(Cx3cr1^{+/+}\) \(Apoe^{-/-}\) aortic segments into \(Apoe^{-/-}\) mice, as well as \(Apoe^{-/-}\) aortic segments into \(Cx3cr1^{-/-}\) \(Apoe^{-/-}\) mice. The intimal plaque size and cellular plaque composition of the transplanted aortic segment were analyzed after four weeks of atherogenic diet. \(\bf Results\) Transplantation of \(Cx3cr^{-/-}\) \(Apoe^{-/-}\) aortic segments into \(Apoe^{-/-}\) mice resulted in reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation compared to plaque size in \(Apoe^{-/-}\) or \(Cx3cr1^{-/-}\) \(Apoe^{-/-}\) mice after transplantation of Apoe-/- aortas. This reduction in lesion formation was associated with reduced numbers of lesional SMCs but not macrophages within the transplanted \(Cx3cr^{-/-}\) \(Apoe^{-/-}\) aortic segment. No differences in frequencies of proliferating and apoptotic cells could be observed. \(\bf Conclusion\) These results indicate that CX3CR1 on resident vessel wall cells plays a key role in atherosclerotic plaque formation in transplanted aortic grafts. Targeting of vascular CX3CL1/CX3CR1 may therefore be explored as a therapeutic option in vascular transplantation procedures.

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Metadaten
Author:Zuzanna RowinskaGND, Thomas A. KoeppelGND, Maryam SanatiGND, Hubert SchelzigGND, Joachim JankowskiGND, Christian WeberGND, Alma Zernecke-MadsenGND, Elisa LiehnGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:294-73681
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170644
Parent Title (English):PLoS ONE
Publisher:Public Library of Science
Place of publication:San Francisco
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2020/07/22
Date of first Publication:2017/02/24
Publishing Institution:Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsbibliothek
Volume:12
Issue:2, Artikel e0170644
First Page:e0170644-1
Last Page:e0170644-9
Institutes/Facilities:St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Klinik für Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie
open_access (DINI-Set):open_access
Licence (English):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY 4.0 - Attribution 4.0 International