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Research Pediatrics
University Medical Center Groningen

New Key Publication:T cell cholesterol efflux suppresses apoptosis and senescence and increases atherosclerosis in middle aged mice

01 July 2022

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by hypercholesterolemia. During aging, T cells accumulate cholesterol, potentially affecting inflammation. However, the effect of cholesterol efflux pathways mediated by ATP-binding cassette A1 and G1 (ABCA1/ABCG1) on T cell-dependent age-related inflammation and atherosclerosis remains poorly understood. In this study, we generate mice with T cell-specific Abca1/Abcg1-deficiency on the low-density-lipoprotein-receptor deficient (Ldlr−/−) background. T cell Abca1/Abcg1-deficiency decreases blood, lymph node, and splenic T cells, and increases T cell activation and apoptosis. T cell Abca1/Abcg1-deficiency induces a premature T cell aging phenotype in middle-aged (12–13 months) Ldlr−/− mice, reflected by upregulation of senescence markers. Despite T cell senescence and enhanced T cell activation, T cell Abca1/Abcg1-deficiency decreases atherosclerosis and aortic inflammation in middle-aged Ldlr−/− mice, accompanied by decreased T cells in atherosclerotic plaques. We attribute these effects to T cell apoptosis downstream of T cell activation, compromising T cell functionality. Collectively, we show that T cell cholesterol efflux pathways suppress T cell apoptosis and senescence, and induce atherosclerosis in middle-aged Ldlr−/− mice.

Authors:

  • Venetia Bazioti
  • Anouk M. La Rose
  • Sjors Maassen
  • Frans Bianchi
  • Rinse de Boer
  • Benedek Halmos
  • Deepti Dabral
  • Emma Guilbaud
  • Arthur Flohr-Svendsen
  • Anouk G. Groenen
  • Alejandro Marmolejo-Garza
  • Mirjam H. Koster
  • Niels J. Kloosterhuis
  • Rick Havinga
  • Alle T. Pranger
  • Miriam Langelaar-Makkinje
  • Alain de Bruin
  • Bart van de Sluis
  • Alison B. Kohan
  • Laurent Yvan-Charvet
  • Geert van den Bogaart
  • Marit Westerterp

Read more: Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31135-4

Last modified:01 July 2022 7.26 p.m.

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