Lack of interleukin-1ß decreases the severity of atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice

Hirokazu Kirii, Tamikazu Niwa, Yasuhiro Yamada, Hisayasu Wada, Kuniaki Saito, Yoichiro Iwakura, Masahide Asano, Hisataka Moriwaki, Mitsuru Seishima

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

654 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective - Atherosclerosis is considered to be a chronic inflammatory disease and many cytokines participate in the development of atherosclerosis, We focused on the role of interleukin-1β (IL-1β, one of the proinflammatory cytokines secreted by monocytes/macrophages, in the progression of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results - We generated mice lacking both apoE and IL-1β. The sizes of atherosclerotic lesions at the aortic sinus in apoE-/-/IL-1β-/- mice at 12 and 24 weeks of age showed a significant decrease of approximately 30% compared with apoE-/-/IL-1β+/+ mice, and the percentage of the atherosclerotic area to total area of apoE-/-/IL-1β-/- at 24 weeks of age also showed a significant decrease of about 30% compared with apoE-/-/IL-1β+/+. The mRNA levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the apoE-/-/ IL-1β-/- aorta were significantly reduced compared with the apoE-/-/IL-1β+/+. Furthermore, VCAM-1 was also reduced at the protein level in apoE-/-/IL-1β-/- aorta compared with apoE-/-/IL-1β+/+. Conclusions - The lack of IL-1β decreases the severity of atherosclerosis in apoE deficient mice, possibly through increased expressions of VCAM-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the aorta.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)656-660
Number of pages5
JournalArteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01-04-2003
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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