Short-term regulation of hematopoiesis by lipoprotein(a) results in the production of pro-inflammatory monocytes

Background: Lipoproteins are important regulators of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) biology, predominantly affecting myelopoiesis. Since myeloid cells, including monocytes and macrophages, promote the inflammatory response that propagates atherosclerosis, it is of interest whether the atherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-like particle lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] contributes to atherogenesis via stimulating myelopoiesis. Methods & results: To assess the effects of Lp(a)-priming on long-term HSPC behavior we transplanted BM of Lp(a) transgenic mice, that had been exposed to elevated levels of Lp(a), into lethally-irradiated C57Bl6 mice and hematopoietic reconstitution was analyzed. No differences in HSPC populations or circulating myeloid cells were detected ten weeks after transplantation. Likewise, in vitro stimulation of C57Bl6 BM cells for 24 h with Lp(a) did not affect colony formation, total cell numbers or myeloid populations 7 days later. To assess the effects of elevated levels of Lp(a) on myelopoiesis, C57Bl6 bone marrow (BM) cells were stimulated with lp(a) for 24 h, and a marked increase in granulocyte-monocyte progenitors, pro-inflammatory Ly6high monocytes and macrophages was observed. Seven days of continuous exposure to Lp(a) increased colony formation and enhanced the formation of pro-inflammatory monocytes and macrophages. Antibody-mediated neutralization of oxidized phospholipids abolished the Lp(a)-induced effects on myelopoiesis. Conclusion: Lp(a) enhances the production of inflammatory monocytes at the bone marrow level but does not induce cell-intrinsic long-term priming of HSPCs. Given the short-term and direct nature of this effect, we postulate that Lp(a)-lowering treatment has the capacity to rapidly revert this multi-level inflammatory response

Corrigendum to: Small molecule-mediated inhibition of CD40-TRAF6 reduces adverse cardiac remodelling in pressure overload induced heart failure (vol 279, pg 141, 2019)

The authors regret that after the publication of the above paper, the authors noted that the initials of the authors listed on the paper were not included on the paper. Specifically, Judith de Haan should have been be listed as Judith J. de Haan, Tom Seijkens should have been listed as Tom T.P. Seijkens, Claudia van Tiel should have been listed as Claudia M. van Tiel, Maike Brans should have been listed as Maike A.D. Brans, and Saskia de Jager should be listed as Saskia C.A. de Jager. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused

T cell specific deletion of Casitas B lineage lymphoma-b reduces atherosclerosis, but increases plaque T cell infiltration and systemic T cell activation

IntroductionAtherosclerosis is a lipid-driven inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, and the underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases. Recent advances in high-parametric immunophenotyping of immune cells indicate that T cells constitute the major leukocyte population in the atherosclerotic plaque. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Casitas B-lymphoma proto-oncogene-B (CBL-B) is a critical intracellular regulator that sets the threshold for T cell activation, making CBL-B a potential therapeutic target to modulate inflammation in atherosclerosis. We previously demonstrated that complete knock-out of CBL-B aggravated atherosclerosis in Apoe-/- mice, which was attributed to increased macrophage recruitment and increased CD8+ T cell activation in the plaque.MethodsTo further study the T cell specific role of CBL-B in atherosclerosis, Apoe-/- CD4creCblbfl/fl (Cbl-bcKO) mice and Apoe-/-CD4WTCblbfl/fl littermates (Cbl-bfl/fl) were fed a high cholesterol diet for ten weeks.ResultsCbl-bcKO mice had smaller atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch and root compared to Cbl-bfl/fl, and a substantial increase in CD3+ T cells in the plaque. Collagen content in the plaque was decreased, while other plaque characteristics including plaque necrotic core, macrophage content, and smooth muscle cell content, remained unchanged. Mice lacking T cell CBL-B had a 1.4-fold increase in CD8+ T cells and a 1.8-fold increase in regulatory T cells in the spleen. Splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had increased expression of C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 3 (CXCR3) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), indicating a T helper 1 (Th1)-like/effector CD8+ T cell-like phenotype.ConclusionIn conclusion, Cbl-bcKO mice have reduced atherosclerosis but show increased T cell accumulation in the plaque accompanied by systemic T cell activation

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Aggravates T Cell–Driven Plaque Inflammation in Atherosclerosis

Background: Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that target PD-1 (programmed cell death protein-1) and/or CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4) are commonly associated with acute immune-related adverse events. Accumulating evidence also suggests that ICIs aggravate existing inflammatory diseases. Objectives: As inflammation drives atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, we studied the propensity of short-term ICI therapy to aggravate atherosclerosis. Methods: We used 18F-FDG (2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose) positron emission tomography–computed tomography to detect macrophage-driven vascular and systemic inflammation in pembrolizumab and nivolumab/ipilimumab–treated melanoma patients. In parallel, atherosclerotic Ldlr–/– mice were treated with CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibition to study the proinflammatory consequences of immune checkpoint inhibition. Results: ICI treatment did not affect 18F-FDG uptake in the large arteries, spleen, and bone marrow of melanoma patients, nor myeloid cell activation in blood and lymphoid organs in hyperlipidemic mice. In contrast, we found marked changes in the adaptive immune response (i.e., increased CD4+ effector T cell and CD8+ cytotoxic T cell numbers in lymphoid organs and the arterial wall of our hyperlipidemic mice). Although plaque size was unaffected, plaques had progressed toward a lymphoid-based inflammatory phenotype, characterized by a 2.7-fold increase of CD8+ T cells and a 3.9-fold increase in necrotic core size. Increased endothelial activation was observed with a 2.2-fold and 1.6-fold increase in vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that combination therapy with anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies does not affect myeloid-driven vascular and systemic inflammation in melanoma patients and hyperlipidemic mice. However, short-term ICI therapy in mice induces T cell–mediated plaque inflammation and drives plaque progression

Image_2_T cell specific deletion of Casitas B lineage lymphoma-b reduces atherosclerosis, but increases plaque T cell infiltration and systemic T cell activation.tif

IntroductionAtherosclerosis is a lipid-driven inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, and the underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases. Recent advances in high-parametric immunophenotyping of immune cells indicate that T cells constitute the major leukocyte population in the atherosclerotic plaque. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Casitas B-lymphoma proto-oncogene-B (CBL-B) is a critical intracellular regulator that sets the threshold for T cell activation, making CBL-B a potential therapeutic target to modulate inflammation in atherosclerosis. We previously demonstrated that complete knock-out of CBL-B aggravated atherosclerosis in Apoe-/- mice, which was attributed to increased macrophage recruitment and increased CD8+ T cell activation in the plaque.MethodsTo further study the T cell specific role of CBL-B in atherosclerosis, Apoe-/- CD4creCblbfl/fl (Cbl-bcKO) mice and Apoe-/-CD4WTCblbfl/fl littermates (Cbl-bfl/fl) were fed a high cholesterol diet for ten weeks.ResultsCbl-bcKO mice had smaller atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch and root compared to Cbl-bfl/fl, and a substantial increase in CD3+ T cells in the plaque. Collagen content in the plaque was decreased, while other plaque characteristics including plaque necrotic core, macrophage content, and smooth muscle cell content, remained unchanged. Mice lacking T cell CBL-B had a 1.4-fold increase in CD8+ T cells and a 1.8-fold increase in regulatory T cells in the spleen. Splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had increased expression of C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 3 (CXCR3) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), indicating a T helper 1 (Th1)-like/effector CD8+ T cell-like phenotype.ConclusionIn conclusion, Cbl-bcKO mice have reduced atherosclerosis but show increased T cell accumulation in the plaque accompanied by systemic T cell activation.</p

Image_3_T cell specific deletion of Casitas B lineage lymphoma-b reduces atherosclerosis, but increases plaque T cell infiltration and systemic T cell activation.tif

IntroductionAtherosclerosis is a lipid-driven inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, and the underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases. Recent advances in high-parametric immunophenotyping of immune cells indicate that T cells constitute the major leukocyte population in the atherosclerotic plaque. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Casitas B-lymphoma proto-oncogene-B (CBL-B) is a critical intracellular regulator that sets the threshold for T cell activation, making CBL-B a potential therapeutic target to modulate inflammation in atherosclerosis. We previously demonstrated that complete knock-out of CBL-B aggravated atherosclerosis in Apoe-/- mice, which was attributed to increased macrophage recruitment and increased CD8+ T cell activation in the plaque.MethodsTo further study the T cell specific role of CBL-B in atherosclerosis, Apoe-/- CD4creCblbfl/fl (Cbl-bcKO) mice and Apoe-/-CD4WTCblbfl/fl littermates (Cbl-bfl/fl) were fed a high cholesterol diet for ten weeks.ResultsCbl-bcKO mice had smaller atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch and root compared to Cbl-bfl/fl, and a substantial increase in CD3+ T cells in the plaque. Collagen content in the plaque was decreased, while other plaque characteristics including plaque necrotic core, macrophage content, and smooth muscle cell content, remained unchanged. Mice lacking T cell CBL-B had a 1.4-fold increase in CD8+ T cells and a 1.8-fold increase in regulatory T cells in the spleen. Splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had increased expression of C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 3 (CXCR3) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), indicating a T helper 1 (Th1)-like/effector CD8+ T cell-like phenotype.ConclusionIn conclusion, Cbl-bcKO mice have reduced atherosclerosis but show increased T cell accumulation in the plaque accompanied by systemic T cell activation.</p

Image_1_T cell specific deletion of Casitas B lineage lymphoma-b reduces atherosclerosis, but increases plaque T cell infiltration and systemic T cell activation.tif

IntroductionAtherosclerosis is a lipid-driven inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, and the underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases. Recent advances in high-parametric immunophenotyping of immune cells indicate that T cells constitute the major leukocyte population in the atherosclerotic plaque. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Casitas B-lymphoma proto-oncogene-B (CBL-B) is a critical intracellular regulator that sets the threshold for T cell activation, making CBL-B a potential therapeutic target to modulate inflammation in atherosclerosis. We previously demonstrated that complete knock-out of CBL-B aggravated atherosclerosis in Apoe-/- mice, which was attributed to increased macrophage recruitment and increased CD8+ T cell activation in the plaque.MethodsTo further study the T cell specific role of CBL-B in atherosclerosis, Apoe-/- CD4creCblbfl/fl (Cbl-bcKO) mice and Apoe-/-CD4WTCblbfl/fl littermates (Cbl-bfl/fl) were fed a high cholesterol diet for ten weeks.ResultsCbl-bcKO mice had smaller atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch and root compared to Cbl-bfl/fl, and a substantial increase in CD3+ T cells in the plaque. Collagen content in the plaque was decreased, while other plaque characteristics including plaque necrotic core, macrophage content, and smooth muscle cell content, remained unchanged. Mice lacking T cell CBL-B had a 1.4-fold increase in CD8+ T cells and a 1.8-fold increase in regulatory T cells in the spleen. Splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had increased expression of C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 3 (CXCR3) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), indicating a T helper 1 (Th1)-like/effector CD8+ T cell-like phenotype.ConclusionIn conclusion, Cbl-bcKO mice have reduced atherosclerosis but show increased T cell accumulation in the plaque accompanied by systemic T cell activation.</p

Image_4_T cell specific deletion of Casitas B lineage lymphoma-b reduces atherosclerosis, but increases plaque T cell infiltration and systemic T cell activation.tif

IntroductionAtherosclerosis is a lipid-driven inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, and the underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases. Recent advances in high-parametric immunophenotyping of immune cells indicate that T cells constitute the major leukocyte population in the atherosclerotic plaque. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Casitas B-lymphoma proto-oncogene-B (CBL-B) is a critical intracellular regulator that sets the threshold for T cell activation, making CBL-B a potential therapeutic target to modulate inflammation in atherosclerosis. We previously demonstrated that complete knock-out of CBL-B aggravated atherosclerosis in Apoe-/- mice, which was attributed to increased macrophage recruitment and increased CD8+ T cell activation in the plaque.MethodsTo further study the T cell specific role of CBL-B in atherosclerosis, Apoe-/- CD4creCblbfl/fl (Cbl-bcKO) mice and Apoe-/-CD4WTCblbfl/fl littermates (Cbl-bfl/fl) were fed a high cholesterol diet for ten weeks.ResultsCbl-bcKO mice had smaller atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic arch and root compared to Cbl-bfl/fl, and a substantial increase in CD3+ T cells in the plaque. Collagen content in the plaque was decreased, while other plaque characteristics including plaque necrotic core, macrophage content, and smooth muscle cell content, remained unchanged. Mice lacking T cell CBL-B had a 1.4-fold increase in CD8+ T cells and a 1.8-fold increase in regulatory T cells in the spleen. Splenic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had increased expression of C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 3 (CXCR3) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), indicating a T helper 1 (Th1)-like/effector CD8+ T cell-like phenotype.ConclusionIn conclusion, Cbl-bcKO mice have reduced atherosclerosis but show increased T cell accumulation in the plaque accompanied by systemic T cell activation.</p