Cited by 292Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular DiseasesCholesterol and Lipid MetabolismCerebrovascular and Carotid Artery Diseases

Interleukin‐13 protects from atherosclerosis and modulates plaque composition by skewing the macrophage phenotype

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Cardilo‐Reis, Larissa, Gruber, Sabrina, Schreier, Sabine M., Drechsler, Maik, Papac‐Milicevic, Nikolina, Weber, Christian, Wagner, Oswald, Stangl, Herbert +2 more·2012·EMBO Molecular Medicine

Abstract

Atherosclerotic lesions are characterized by the accumulation of oxidized LDL (OxLDL) and the infiltration of macrophages and T cells. Cytokine expression in the microenvironment of evolving lesions can profoundly contribute to plaque development. While the pro-atherogenic effect of T helper (Th) 1 cytokines, such as IFN-γ, is well established, the role of Th2 cytokines is less clear. Therefore, we characterized the role of the Th2 cytokine interleukin (IL)-13 in murine atherosclerosis. Here, we report that IL-13 administration favourably modulated the morphology of already established atherosclerotic lesions by increasing lesional collagen content and reducing vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)-dependent monocyte recruitment, resulting in decreased plaque macrophage content. This was accompanied by the induction of alternatively activated (M2) macrophages, which exhibited increased clearance of OxLDL compared to IFN-γ-activated (M1) macrophages in vitro. Importantly, deficiency of IL-13 results in accelerated atherosclerosis in LDLR(-/-) mice without affecting plasma cholesterol levels. Thus, IL-13 protects from atherosclerosis and promotes a favourable plaque morphology, in part through the induction of alternatively activated macrophages.

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Crossref · 10.1002/emmm.201201374

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  • Low levels of IL-13 contributed to the reduced ABCA1 expression in FXS astrocytes.

    “It is possible that low levels of IL-13 contributed to the reduced ABCA1 expression in FXS astrocytes35.”

    From An iPSC-derived astrocyte model of fragile X syndrome exhibits dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis (2023) · cites this paper as [35]

    The Results section reports higher ABCA1 expression in IL-13-stimulated macrophage foam cells and in lesions of IL-13-treated mice (Fig. 5C–F). That supports the proposed IL-13–ABCA1 link, but the paper does not establish that low IL-13 contributes to reduced ABCA1 expression in FXS astrocytes. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Reduced ABCA1 expression associated with reduced secretion of IL-13 and IL-10, which are implicated in ABCA1 regulation.

    “Reduced ABCA1 expression associated with reduced secretion of IL-13 and IL-10, which are implicated in ABCA1 regulation (Cardilo-Reis et al., 2012; Ma et al., 2012).”

    From Astrocytes in fragile X syndrome (2024) · cites this paper as Cardilo-Reis et al., 2012

    The Results (pages not supplied) show that IL-13 stimulation increased ABCA1 expression in macrophage foam cells, while IL-13-deficient mice had reduced splenocyte production of IL-13 and IL-10. They do not establish that reduced ABCA1 expression was associated with those reductions in cytokine secretion, or that IL-10 regulates ABCA1. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The low level of IL-13 (54.3% of control) could contribute to the reduced ABCA1 expression in FXS astrocytes.

    “Since there is evidence that IL-13 stimulates ABCA1 expression35, its low level (54.3% of control) could contribute to the reduced ABCA1 expression in FXS astrocytes.”

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Authors
Cardilo‐Reis, L., Gruber, S., Schreier, S. M., Drechsler, M., Papac‐Milicevic, N., Weber, C., Wagner, O., Stangl, H., Soehnlein, O., & Binder, C. J.
Affiliations
  • Austrian Academy of Sciences (AT)
  • University of Vienna (AT)
  • Medical University of Vienna (AT)
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Corresponding author
Binder, Christoph J.
Venue
EMBO Molecular Medicine
Published
2012-10-01
Volume
4
Issue
10
Pages
1072-1086
ISSN
  • 1757-4676 (ISSN-L)
  • 1757-4684
OpenAlex
W2169929180
Cited by
292
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 17
FWCI
8.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • EMBO Molecular Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Funded Access
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cerebrovascular and Carotid Artery Diseases
Keywords
IL-13, atherosclerosis, plaque composition, macrophage polarization, M2 macrophages, M1 macrophages, Th2 cytokines, VCAM-1, monocyte recruitment, collagen deposition, Ldlr-deficient mice, atherosclerotic plaque morphology
MeSH terms
Animals, Cholesterol, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Lipoproteins, LDL, Macrophage Activation, Macrophages, Male, Interleukin-13, Atherosclerosis, Mice

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