| First Author | de Vries MR | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | J Mol Cell Cardiol | Volume | 64 |
| Pages | 51-8 | PubMed ID | 24013026 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:224964 | Mgi Id | MGI:5689798 |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2013.08.009 | Citation | de Vries MR, et al. (2013) C57BL/6 NK cell gene complex is crucially involved in vascular remodeling. J Mol Cell Cardiol 64:51-8 |
| abstractText | OBJECTIVE: NK cells are known to be involved in cardiovascular disease processes. One of these processes, vascular remodeling, may strongly differ between individuals and mouse strains such as the C57BL/6 and BALB/c. Moreover, C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice vary in immune responses and in the composition of their Natural Killer gene Complex (NKC). Here we study the role of NK cells, and in particular the C57BL/6 NKC in vascular remodeling and intimal hyperplasia formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: C57BL/6, BALB/c and CMV1(r) mice, a BALB/c strain congenic for the C57BL/6 NKC, were used in an injury induced cuff model and a vein graft model. NK cell depleted C57BL/6 mice demonstrated a 43% reduction in intimal hyperplasia after femoral artery cuff placement compared to control C57BL/6 mice (p<0.05). Cuff placement and vein grafting resulted in profound intimal hyperplasia in C57BL/6 mice, but also in CMV1(r) mice, whereas this was significantly less in BALB/c mice. Significant more leukocyte infiltrations and IFN-gamma staining were seen in both C57BL/6 and CMV1(r) vein grafts compared to BALB/c vein grafts. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate an important role for NK cells in intimal hyperplasia and vascular remodeling. Furthermore, the C57BL/6 NKC in CMV1(r) mice stimulates vascular remodeling most likely through the activation of (IFN-gamma-secreting) NK-cells that modulate the outcome of vascular remodeling. |
