Background-T lymphocytes are thought to be important in atherosclerosis, but very little is known about the mechanisms of lymphocyte recruitment into atherosclerosis-prone aortas. In this study we tested the hypothesis that CXCR6, a chemokine receptor that is expressed on a subset of CD4 ϩ T helper 1 cells and natural killer T cells, is involved in lymphocyte homing into the aortic wall and modulates the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results-To investigate the role of CXCR6 in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, we bred CXCR6-deficient (CXCR6 GFP/GFP ) mice with apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ ) mice. We found that CXCR6 Key Words: atherosclerosis Ⅲ immune system Ⅲ leukocytes Ⅲ lymphocytes Ⅲ vessels A therosclerotic lesions are characterized by lipid accumulation, cell death, fibrosis, and chronic vascular inflammation. 1 The body of evidence is growing that T and B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and macrophages reside within the noninflamed aortic wall, and a significant influx of macrophages and T cells correlates with the development and progression of atherosclerosis. [2][3][4] The molecular mechanisms, kinetics of trafficking, and retention of different types of immune cells within the noninflamed and atherosclerosisprone aortic wall are not well defined. Most of the focus to date has been on the ability of monocytes to migrate to the atherosclerotic wall. 5 P-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), and ␣ 4  1 integrin (VLA-4) are all involved in monocyte recruitment into atherosclerotic plaques, 6 and the chemokines CCL5 (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted [RANTES]) and CXCL1 (keratinocyte-derived chemokine [KC]) are responsible for triggering monocyte adhesion on the atherosclerotic endothelium. [7][8][9] Lymphocyte trafficking into normal and atherosclerotic aortas is partially L-selectin dependent, 2 but little is known about other potential molecular mechanisms of lymphocyte recruitment.
Clinical Perspective p 1811CXCR6 is a chemokine receptor expressed on some T helper 1 (Th1) and natural killer T (NKT) cells found in rheumatoid joints and inflamed livers. 10 CXCR6, also known as Bonzo/STRL33/TYMSTR, 11 is expressed on subpopulations of CD4 ϩ effector memory T cells, 10 on V␣ 24 ϩ NKT cells, 12,13 a Forkhead Box P3 The disintegrin and metalloproteinase ADAM10 is involved in CXCL16 cleavage from the cell membrane, 21 leading to the release of a soluble protein that functions as a chemoattractant for responsive leukocytes.In addition to its properties as a chemokine, CXCL16 acts also as a scavenger receptor for apoptotic cells, phosphatidylserine, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein. 16,19 Expression of CXCL16 has been reported in atherosclerosis-prone vessels from apolipoprotein-E-deficient (ApoE Ϫ/Ϫ ) mice 23 and human atherosclerotic plaques. 24 Absence of CXCL16 has been shown to accelerate atherosclerosis, enhance macrophage recruitment, and elevate mRNA levels for...