Hypercholesterolemia Enhances T Cell Receptor Signaling and Increases the Regulatory T Cell Population

Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 15;7(1):15655. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-15546-8.

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia promotes the inflammation against lipoproteins in atherosclerosis. Development of atherosclerosis is affected by the balance between pro-inflammatory effector T cells and anti-inflammatory regulatory T (Treg) cells. However, phenotype and function of T cell subpopulations in hypercholesterolemia remain to be investigated. Here, we found that cholesterol-containing diet increased the expression of the Treg cell lineage-defining transcription factor FoxP3 among thymocytes and splenocytes. Hypercholesterolemia elevated the FoxP3 expression level and population size of peripheral Treg cells, but did not prevent enhanced proliferation of stimulated T cells. Moreover, cholesterol supplementation in diet as well as in cell culture medium promoted T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling in CD4+ T cells. Our results demonstrate that hypercholesterolemia enhances TCR stimulation, Treg cell development as well as T cell proliferation. Thus, our findings may help to understand why hypercholesterolemia correlates with altered CD4+ T cell responses.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / immunology*
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Lineage / immunology
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / pharmacology
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / genetics
  • Hypercholesterolemia / immunology*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / pathology
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Lipoproteins / metabolism
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / genetics*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, LDL / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Thymocytes / metabolism
  • Thymocytes / pathology

Substances

  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • LDLR protein, human
  • Lipoproteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, LDL