The Impact of IL-17 in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular disease in which atherosclerotic plaques develop in the arterial wall. It is believed that inflammation plays a major role in atherosclerotic formation and progression. Thus, atherosclerosis can be considered as an inflammatory disease of the arterial vessel. Mouse model demonstrated that T and B cell deficiency reduces the atherosclerotic burden in the formation of an atherosclerotic lesion. CD4+ T helper cells (Th), such as Th1 cells known being the major CD4+ T cell subtype found in mouse models of atherogenesis, increase plaque formation caused by oxLDL. IL-17 (also known as IL-17A) was produced by T cells or by a unique subset of T helper cells. IL-17-producing T cells express interferon- gamma (IFN-γ), an important regulator of immune function, which is highly expressed in atherosclerotic lesions, defying their neat characteristics as Th17 cells. Regulation of Th17 signal pathway may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, such as atherosclerosis. In this review, the structural features of IL-17 family and their roles involved in atherosclerosis are described.