Save
Email
Print
ShareJuly 6, 2010 — Antibody-producing B cells promote atherosclerosis in mice, according to a study to be published online on July 5th in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. These findings came as a surprise, as prior studies had suggested that B cells help protect against the disease.
An international team of researchers, led by Ziad Mallat of the Paris Cardiovascular Research Center and the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Cambridge, found that getting rid of B cells protected against atherosclerosis in mice. The protective effect was attributed to the increased production of an immune protein called interleukin-17, which was previously shown to hamper atherosclerosis in mice.
Additional work is needed to understand how interleukin-17 interferes with the development of atherosclerotic lesions.
These findings raise the possibility that B cell-depleting drugs, currently used to treat patients with inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, may also reduce their risk of atherosclerosis.
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Rockefeller University Press, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Ait-Oufella, H., et al. B cell depletion reduces the development of atherosclerosis in mice. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2010; DOI: 10.1084/jem.20100155
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
more 
