Upregulation of TH/IL-17 Pathway-Related Genes in Human Coronary Endothelial Cells Stimulated with Serum of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes

Analysis of Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Vascular Calcification Using In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world, and vascular calcification is the most significant predictor of cardiovascular events; however, there are currently no treatment or therapeutic options for vascular calcification. Calcification begins within specialized extracellular vesicles (EVs), which serve as nucleating foci by aggregating calcium and phosphate ions. This protocol describes methods for obtaining and assessing calcification in murine aortas and analyzing the associated extracted EVs. First, gross dissection of the mouse is performed to collect any relevant organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Then, the murine aorta is isolated and excised from the aortic root to the femoral artery. Two to three aortas are then pooled and incubated in a digestive solution before undergoing ultracentrifugation to isolate the EVs of interest. Next, the mineralization potential of the EVs is determined through incubation in a high-phosphate solution and measuring the light absorbance at a wavelength of 340 nm. Finally, collagen hydrogels are used to observe the calcified mineral formation and maturation produced by the EVs in vitro.

Expression and activity of IL-17 receptor subunits in human cutaneous cells as targets for anti-IL-17 therapeutic antibodies

The key players in different chronic inflammatory skin diseases are cytokines belonging to the IL-17 group, IL-17 receptors and a T helper cell population, Th17 cells. Successful therapeutic strategies that target either IL-17 or the major IL-17 receptor IL-17RA have confirmed the immune-pathogenic pathway. To study the IL-17-ligand - receptor axis at the molecular level, a number of cutaneous cell types from healthy human subjects has been cultured and analyzed for the expression of IL-17 receptors. IL-17RA was the most abundantly expressed receptor type in keratinocytes, epidermal stem cells, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, hemo- and lymphovascular endothelial cells. IL-17RC and IL-17RD showed moderate expression, while the genes for IL-17RB and IL-17RE were poorly expressed. In none of the investigated cell types, IL-17 ligands caused an increased expression level of the five receptor types in time- and dose-dependent experiments. No evidence for IL-17A, -C, -E or -F induced signal transduction cascades could be obtained by a qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Further studies are necessary to identify relevant co-stimulating factors from IL-17 subtypes under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Interleukin 17A in atherosclerosis - Regulation and pathophysiologic effector function

This review summarizes the current data on the interleukin (IL)-17A pathway in experimental atherosclerosis and clinical data. IL-17A is a prominent cytokine for early T cell response produced by both innate and adaptive leukocytes. In atherosclerosis, increased total IL-17A levels and expression in CD4⁺ T helper and γδ T cells have been demonstrated. Cytokines including IL-6 and TGFβ that increase IL-17A expression are elevated. Many other factors such as lipids, glucose and sodium chloride concentrations as well as vitamins and arylhydrocarbon receptor agonists that promote IL-17A expression are closely associated with cardiovascular risk in the human population. In acute inflammation models, IL-17A mediates innate leukocyte recruitment of both neutrophils and monocytes. In atherosclerosis, IL-17A increased aortic macrophage and T cell infiltration in most models. Secondary recruitment effects via the endothelium and according to recent data also pericytes have been demonstrated. IL-17 receptor A is highly expressed on monocytes and direct effects have been reported as well. Beyond leukocyte accumulation, IL-17A may affect other factors of plaque formation such as endothelial function, and according to some reports, fibrous cap formation and vascular relaxation with an increase in blood pressure. Anti-IL-17A agents are now available for clinical use. Cardiovascular side effect profiles are benign at this point. IL-17A appears to be a differential regulator of atherosclerosis and its effects in mouse models suggest that its modulation may have contradictory effects on plaque size and possibly stability in different patient populations.