Abstract
Cardiovascular disease risk is increased in individuals suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus. Understanding the mechanism(s) of systemic lupus erythematosus-accelerated atherosclerosis is critical for the development of effective therapies. Our laboratory previously demonstrated that radiation chimeras of systemic lupus erythematosus-susceptible B6.Sle1.2.3 and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr)(-/-) mice have augmented atherosclerosis, which is associated with increased T-cell burden and activation in the lesion. The goals of this study were to further define specific immune mechanisms that mediate accelerated atherosclerosis and to determine whether the gene interval Sle3, which is linked to lupus-associated T-cell dysregulation, was sufficient to modulate atherogenesis. We transferred B6.Sle3 or C57Bl/6-derived bone marrow cells into lethally irradiated LDLr( -/-) mice (hereafter referred to as LDLr.Sle3 and LDLr.B6, respectively). Sixteen weeks after transplantation, the mice were placed on a western-type diet for 8 weeks. Our analyses revealed that LDLr.Sle3 mice had increased auto-antibody production against double-stranded DNA and cardiolipin compared with LDLr.B6 controls. We also found an increase in atherosclerosis-associated oxLDL antibodies. Antibody isotypes and serum cytokine analysis suggested that the humoral immune response in LDLr.Sle3 mice was skewed toward a Th2 phenotype. This finding is consistent with lupus-associated immune dysregulation. Additionally, LDLr.Sle3 mice had decreased serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, there was no difference in lesion area or cellular composition of lesions between the two groups. These data demonstrate that, despite no change in lesion area, transfer of Sle3-associated T-cell dysregulation alone to LDLr-deficient mice is sufficient to decrease serum cholesterol and to exacerbate humoral immune responses that are frequently associated with atherosclerosis.