Disruption of the TSLP-TSLPR-LAP signaling between epithelial and dendritic cells through hyperlipidemia contributes to regulatory T-Cell defects in atherosclerotic mice.

Regulatory T-Cells (Tregs) play a protective role against the development of atherosclerosis. Moreover, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)/thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR) signaling in myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) promote Treg differentiation. Here, we examined the potential role of TSLP/TSLPR on Treg homeostasis in atherosclerosis. The frequencies of both latency-associated peptide (LAP)(+) and Foxp3(+) Tregs were reduced in the thymus and spleen of ApoE(-/-) mice compared with C57BL/6 mice, and this effect was associated with decreased thymic output. The tolerogenic function of DCs obtained from ApoE(-/-) mice was compromised compared with those from C57BL/6 mice. The expression of TSLP and TSLPR was also inhibited in ApoE(-/-) mice. In addition, we found that ox-LDL attenuated TSLP expression in cultured thymic epithelial cells (TECs) through the activation of retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA) and IL-1β and decreased LAP and PD-L1 expression in oxLDL-activated DCs while both were up-regulated in TSLP-activated DCs. We also observed that the TSLP-DCs mediated differentiation of Tregs was abrogated through LAP neutralization. Furthermore, TSLP injection rescued Treg defects in ApoE(-/-) mice. These findings suggest that Treg defects in ApoE(-/-) mice might partially be attributed to the disruption of TSLP-TSLPR-LAP signaling in epithelial cells (ECs) and DCs.

Yu K ，Dong Q ，Mao X ，Meng K ，Zhao X ，Ji Q ，Wu B ，Zhong Y ，Zhu Z ，Liu Y ，Zhang W ，Tony H ，Shi H ，Zeng Q ... -  《-》

TSLPR deficiency attenuates atherosclerotic lesion development associated with the inhibition of TH17 cells and the promotion of regulator T cells in ApoE-deficient mice.

We generated thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-chain deficient apolipoprotein E-double knockout (ApoE-TSLPR DKO) mice to directly explore the role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in atherogenesis. Both thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and its receptor are expressed in atherosclerotic aortas of apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice. Serum thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is markedly increased in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice fed with a high fat diet (HFD). Arterial lesion formation was significantly decreased in thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-chain deficient apolipoprotein E-double knockout (ApoE-TSLPR DKO) mice compared with apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice. Bone marrow chimera studies indicated reduced lesions in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice which received the bone marrow of thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-chain deficient apolipoprotein E-double knockout (ApoE-TSLPR DKO) mice as well as in TSLPR KO mice which received bone marrow of ApoE-TSLPR DKO mice. Compared with apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice, IFN-γ secretion by activated T cells was increased but IL-4 expression was reduced in thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-chain deficient apolipoprotein E-double knockout (ApoE-TSLPR DKO) mice. Consisted with these results, the mRNA of IFN-γ was increased but IL-4 was reduced in root. These findings suggest that a reduction in atherosclerotic lesions in thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-chain deficient apolipoprotein E-double knockout (ApoE-TSLPR DKO) mice may not be due to a Th1/Th2 imbalance. On the other hand, the number of Th17 cells, the secretion of IL-17A by activated CD4(+) T cells and the mRNA expression of IL-17A in root were decreased in thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-chain deficient apolipoprotein E-double knockout (ApoE-TSLPR DKO) mice. Notably, the number of regulatory T cell expression of IL-10 was increased in thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-chain deficient apolipoprotein E-double knockout (ApoE-TSLPR DKO) mice. Collectively, our data suggest that activating thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) promotes atherosclerosis by inducing Th17/Treg imbalance through thymic stromal lymphopoietin/thymic stromal lymphopoietin R-receptor (TSLP/TSLPR) signal way in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed with HFD model.

Wu C ，He S ，Peng Y ，Kushwaha KK ，Lin J ，Dong J ，Wang B ，Lin J ，Shan S ，Liu J ，Huang K ，Li D ... -  《-》

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin attenuates the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice.

Yu K ，Zhu P ，Dong Q ，Zhong Y ，Zhu Z ，Lin Y ，Huang Y ，Meng K ，Ji Q ，Yi G ，Zhang W ，Wu B ，Mao Y ，Cheng P ，Zhao X ，Mao X ，Zeng Q ... -  《Journal of the American Heart Association》

Blockage of thymic stromal lymphopoietin signaling improves acute lung injury in mice by regulating pulmonary dendritic cells.

Pan G ，Liang Y ，Lu L ，Chen X ，Wang M ，Wang L ，Yan C ，Zhang W ... -  《International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology》

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin-activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells induce the generation of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in human thymus.

Hanabuchi S ，Ito T ，Park WR ，Watanabe N ，Shaw JL ，Roman E ，Arima K ，Wang YH ，Voo KS ，Cao W ，Liu YJ ... -  《-》