Flt3 Signaling-Dependent Dendritic Cells Protect against Atherosclerosis

• Published in: Immunity (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2011-11, Vol.35 (5), p.819-831
• Main Authors: Choi, Jae-Hoon, Cheong, Cheolho, Dandamudi, Durga B., Park, Chae Gyu, Rodriguez, Anthony, Mehandru, Saurabh, Velinzon, Klara, Jung, In-Hyuk, Yoo, Ji-Young, Oh, Goo Taeg, Steinman, Ralph M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Aorta - drug effects; Aorta - immunology; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - genetics; Atherosclerosis - immunology; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Blood diseases; Coronary vessels; Dendritic Cells - drug effects; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Disease; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 - genetics; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Leukocyte Reduction Procedures; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor - metabolism; Macrophages - immunology; Membrane Proteins - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Monocytes - immunology; Science; Signal Transduction; Sinuses
• ISSN: 1074-7613; 1097-4180
• DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2011.09.014

Early events in atherosclerosis occur in the aortic intima and involve monocytes that become macrophages. We looked for these cells in the steady state adult mouse aorta, and surprisingly, we found a dominance of dendritic cells (DCs) in the intima. In contrast to aortic adventitial macrophages, CD11c +MHC II hi DCs were poorly phagocytic but were immune stimulatory. DCs were of two types primarily: classical Flt3-Flt3L signaling-dependent, CD103 +CD11b − DCs and macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)-dependent, CD14 +CD11b +DC-SIGN + monocyte-derived DCs. Both types expanded during atherosclerosis. By crossing Flt3 −/− to Ldlr −/− atherosclerosis-prone mice, we developed a selective and marked deficiency of classical CD103 + aortic DCs, and they were associated with exacerbated atherosclerosis without alterations in blood lipids. Concomitantly, the Flt3 −/− Ldlr −/− mice had fewer Foxp3 + Treg cells and increased inflammatory cytokine mRNAs in the aorta. Therefore, functional DCs are dominant in normal aortic intima and, in contrast to macrophages, CD103 + classical DCs are associated with atherosclerosis protection. [Display omitted] ► Immune stimulatory but nonphagocytic DCs are dominant in the aortic intima ► Aortic CD103 +CD11b − DCs are Flt3-Flt3L dependent classical DCs ► Aortic CD14 +CD11b +DC −SIGN + DCs are M-CSF dependent ► Flt3-dependent cDCs decrease atherosclerosis and increase aortic Foxp3 + CD4 + T cells