The Impact of IL-17 in Atherosclerosis

Title:The Impact of IL-17 in Atherosclerosis

Volume: 24 Issue: 21

Author(s): Xinjie Lu*

Affiliation:

• The Mary and Garry Weston Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Thrombosis Research Institute, London, SW3 6LR,United Kingdom

Keywords: Atherosclerosis, plaques, mouse model, IL-17, lipoproteins, immune function, Th17 cells.

Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular disease in which atherosclerotic plaques develop in the arterial wall. It is believed that inflammation plays a major role in atherosclerotic formation and progression. Thus, atherosclerosis can be considered as an inflammatory disease of the arterial vessel. Mouse model demonstrated that T and B cell deficiency reduces the atherosclerotic burden in the formation of an atherosclerotic lesion. CD4+ T helper cells (Th), such as Th1 cells known being the major CD4+ T cell subtype found in mouse models of atherogenesis, increase plaque formation caused by oxLDL. IL-17 (also known as IL-17A) was produced by T cells or by a unique subset of T helper cells. IL-17-producing T cells express interferon- gamma (IFN-γ), an important regulator of immune function, which is highly expressed in atherosclerotic lesions, defying their neat characteristics as Th17 cells. Regulation of Th17 signal pathway may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, such as atherosclerosis. In this review, the structural features of IL-17 family and their roles involved in atherosclerosis are described.

Cite this article as:

Lu Xinjie*, The Impact of IL-17 in Atherosclerosis, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2017; 24 (21) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666170419150614