B-lymphocyte deficiency increases atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-null mice

Objective - Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by innate and adaptive immune responses. We investigated the role of B cells and antibodies in the development of atherosclerosis in low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-deficient (LDLR^-/-) mice. Methods and Results - Using wild-type and B cell-deficient mice as bone marrow donors, we were able to generate LDLR^-/- mice that possessed <1.0% of their normal B cell population. B cell-deficient LDLR^-/- mice on a Western diet showed marked decreases in total serum antibody and anti-oxidized LDL antibody. B cell deficiency was associated with a 30% to 40% increase in the lesion area in the proximal and distal aortas. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunospot analyses showed a decrease in proatherogenic (interferon-γ) and antiatherogenic (interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β) cytokine mRNA and a decrease in interleukin-4- and interferon-γ-producing cells. Additionally, we observed a decrease in splenocyte proliferation to oxidized LDL in the B cell-deficient LDLR^-/- mice, suggesting that B lymphocytes may play a role in the presentation of lipid antigen. Conclusions - Collectively, these data demonstrate that B cells and/or antibodies are protective against atherosclerosis and that this protection may be conferred by B cell-mediated immune regulation.