Pattarabanjird T, Li C, McNamara C. B Cells in Atherosclerosis: Mechanisms and Potential Clinical Applications.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021;
6:546-563. [PMID:
34222726 PMCID:
PMC8246059 DOI:
10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.01.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
B cells regulate atherosclerotic plaque formation through production of antibodies and cytokines, and effects are subset specific (B1 and B2).
Putative human atheroprotective B1 cells function similarly to murine B1 in their spontaneous IgM antibody production. However, marker strategies in identifying human and murine B1 are different.
IgM antibody to oxidation specific epitopes produced by B1 cells associate with human coronary artery disease.
Neoantigen immunization may be a promising strategy for atherosclerosis vaccine development, but further study to determine relevant antigens still need to be done.
B-cell–targeted therapies, used in treating autoimmune diseases as well as lymphoid cancers, might have potential applications in treating cardiovascular diseases. Short- and long-term cardiovascular effects of these agents need to be assessed.
Because atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, understanding inflammatory processes underpinning its pathology is critical. B cells have been implicated as a key immune cell type in regulating atherosclerosis. B-cell effects, mediated by antibodies and cytokines, are subset specific. In this review, we focus on elaborating mechanisms underlying subtype-specific roles of B cells in atherosclerosis and discuss available human data implicating B cells in atherosclerosis. We further discuss potential B cell–linked therapeutic approaches, including immunization and B cell–targeted biologics. Given recent evidence strongly supporting a role for B cells in human atherosclerosis and the expansion of immunomodulatory agents that affect B-cell biology in clinical use and clinical trials for other disorders, it is important that the cardiovascular field be cognizant of potential beneficial or untoward effects of modulating B-cell activity on atherosclerosis.
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