Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
7293
pubmed:dateCreated
2010-4-29
pubmed:abstractText
The inflammatory nature of atherosclerosis is well established but the agent(s) that incite inflammation in the artery wall remain largely unknown. Germ-free animals are susceptible to atherosclerosis, suggesting that endogenous substances initiate the inflammation. Mature atherosclerotic lesions contain macroscopic deposits of cholesterol crystals in the necrotic core, but their appearance late in atherogenesis had been thought to disqualify them as primary inflammatory stimuli. However, using a new microscopic technique, we revealed that minute cholesterol crystals are present in early diet-induced atherosclerotic lesions and that their appearance in mice coincides with the first appearance of inflammatory cells. Other crystalline substances can induce inflammation by stimulating the caspase-1-activating NLRP3 (NALP3 or cryopyrin) inflammasome, which results in cleavage and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1 family cytokines. Here we show that cholesterol crystals activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in phagocytes in vitro in a process that involves phagolysosomal damage. Similarly, when injected intraperitoneally, cholesterol crystals induce acute inflammation, which is impaired in mice deficient in components of the NLRP3 inflammasome, cathepsin B, cathepsin L or IL-1 molecules. Moreover, when mice deficient in low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) were bone-marrow transplanted with NLRP3-deficient, ASC (also known as PYCARD)-deficient or IL-1alpha/beta-deficient bone marrow and fed on a high-cholesterol diet, they had markedly decreased early atherosclerosis and inflammasome-dependent IL-18 levels. Minimally modified LDL can lead to cholesterol crystallization concomitant with NLRP3 inflammasome priming and activation in macrophages. Although there is the possibility that oxidized LDL activates the NLRP3 inflammasome in vivo, our results demonstrate that crystalline cholesterol acts as an endogenous danger signal and its deposition in arteries or elsewhere is an early cause rather than a late consequence of inflammation. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and indicate new potential molecular targets for the therapy of this disease.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/CIAS1 protein, mouse, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Carrier Proteins, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Cathepsin B, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Cathepsin L, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Cholesterol, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Ctsb protein, mouse, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Ctsl protein, mouse, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Cytoskeletal Proteins, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Interleukin-1, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Interleukin-18, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Pycard protein, mouse, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Receptors, LDL
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
1476-4687
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:day
29
pubmed:volume
464
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1357-61
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-3-21
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Atherosclerosis, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Bone Marrow Transplantation, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Carrier Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Cathepsin B, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Cathepsin L, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Cholesterol, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Crystallization, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Cytoskeletal Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Diet, Atherogenic, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Female, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Inflammation, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Interleukin-1, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Interleukin-18, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Lysosomes, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Mice, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Mice, Inbred C57BL, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Peritoneal Cavity, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Phagocytes, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Receptors, LDL, pubmed-meshheading:20428172-Time Factors
pubmed:year
2010
pubmed:articleTitle
NLRP3 inflammasomes are required for atherogenesis and activated by cholesterol crystals.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural