Profound systemic alteration of the immune phenotype and an immunoglobulin switch in Erdheim-Chester disease in 78 patients from a single center.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare, systemic, non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis neoplasm, which is characterized by the infiltration of CD63+ CD1a- histiocytes in multiple tissues. The BRAFV600E mutation is frequently present in individuals with ECD and has been detected in hematopoietic stem cells and immune cells from the myeloid and systemic compartments. Immune cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines are present in lesions, suggesting that ECD involves immune cell recruitment. Although a systemic cytokine T-helper-1-oriented signature has been reported in ECD, the immune cell network orchestrating the immune response in ECD has yet to be described. To address this issue, the phenotypes of circulating leukocytes were investigated in a large, single-center cohort of 78 patients with ECD and compared with those of a group of 21 control individuals. Major perturbations in the abundance of systemic immune cells were detected in patients with ECD, with decreases in circulating plasmacytoid, myeloid 1, and myeloid 2 dendritic cells, mostly in BRAFV600E carriers, in comparison with individuals in the control group. Similarly, marked decreases in blood Thelper, cytotoxic, and B-lymphocyte numbers were observed in patients with ECD, relative to the control group. Measurement of circulating immunoglobulin concentrations revealed an immunoglobulin G switch, from IgG1 to IgG4 subclasses, which are more frequently associated with the BRAF mutation. First-line therapies, including pegylated interferon-a and vemurafenib, were able to correct most of these alterations. This study reveals a profound disturbance in the systemic immune phenotype in patients with ECD, providing important new information, helping to understand the physiopathological mechanisms involved in this rare disease and improving the therapeutic management of patients.

Hypoalphalipoproteinemia and BRAFV600E Mutation Are Major Predictors of Aortic Infiltration in the Erdheim-Chester Disease.

Objective- Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by the infiltration of multiple tissues with lipid-laden histiocytes. Cardiovascular involvement is frequent in ECD and leads to a severe prognosis. The objective of this study was to determine whether an alteration of lipid metabolism participates in the lipid accumulation in histiocytes and the cardiovascular involvement in ECD. Approach and Results- An analysis of plasma lipid levels indicated that male ECD patients carrying the BRAFV600E (B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase) mutation exhibited hypoalphalipoproteinemia, as demonstrated by low plasma HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) levels. Capacity of sera from male BRAFV600E ECD patients to mediate free cholesterol efflux from human macrophages was reduced compared with control individuals. Cardiovascular involvement was detected in 84% of the ECD patients, and we reported that the presence of the BRAFV600E mutation and hypoalphalipoproteinemia is an independent determinant of aortic infiltration in ECD. Phenotyping of blood CD14+ cells, the precursors of histiocytes, enabled the identification of a specific inflammatory signature associated with aortic infiltration which was partially affected by the HDL phenotype. Finally, the treatment with vemurafenib, an inhibitor of the BRAFV600E mutation, restored the defective sera cholesterol efflux capacity and reduced the aortic infiltration. Conclusions- Our findings indicate that hypoalphalipoproteinemia in male ECD patients carrying the BRAFV600E mutation favors the formation of lipid-laden histiocytes. In addition, we identified the BRAF status and the HDL phenotype as independent determinants of the aortic involvement in ECD with a potential role of HDL in modulating the infiltration of blood CD14+ cells into the aorta.

Adrenocortical scavenger receptor class B type I deficiency exacerbates endotoxic shock and precipitates sepsis-induced mortality in mice.

Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)-deficient mice display reduced survival to endotoxic shock and sepsis. The understanding of the mechanisms underlying SR-BI protection has been hampered by the large spectrum of SR-BI functions and ligands. It notably plays an important role in the liver in high-density lipoprotein metabolism, but it is also thought to participate in innate immunity as a pattern recognition receptor for bacterial endotoxins, such as LPS. In this study, we sought to determine the tissue-specific contribution of SR-BI in the hyperinflammatory response and high mortality rates observed in SR-BI(-/-) mice in endotoxicosis or sepsis. Restoring plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein, which are critical lipoproteins for LPS neutralization, did not improve acute outcomes of LPS injection in SR-BI(-/-) mice. Mice deficient for SR-BI in hepatocytes, endothelial cells, or myeloid cells were not more susceptible to LPS-induced death. However, if SR-BI ablation in hepatocytes led to a moderate increase in systemic inflammatory markers, SR-BI deficiency in myeloid cells was associated with an anti-inflammatory effect. Finally, mice deficient for SR-BI in the adrenal cortex, where the receptor provides lipoprotein-derived cholesterol, had impaired secretion of glucocorticoids in response to stress. When exposed to an endotoxin challenge, these mice exhibited an exacerbated systemic and local inflammatory response, reduced activation of atrophy genes in muscle, and high lethality rate. Furthermore, polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligature and puncture resulted in early death of these animals. Our study clearly demonstrates that corticoadrenal SR-BI is a critical element of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to provide effective glucocorticoid-dependent host defense after an endotoxic shock or bacterial infection.

Bcl-x inactivation in macrophages accelerates progression of advanced atherosclerotic lesions in Apoe(-/-) mice.

OBJECTIVE: Bcl-x is the most abundantly expressed member of the Bcl-2 gene family in macrophages, but its role in macrophage apoptosis during atherogenesis is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We previously reported dual pro- and antiatherogenic effects of macrophage survival in early versus advanced atherosclerotic lesions, respectively, potentially reflecting growing impairment of efferocytosis during plaque progression. Here, we specifically inactivated Bcl-x in macrophages and evaluated its impact on atherosclerotic lesion formation in Apoe(-/-) mice at various stages of the disease. Bcl-x deficiency in macrophages increased their susceptibility to apoptosis, resulting in the depletion of tissue macrophages in vivo, including its major pool, Küppfer cells in the liver. We also observed increased cholesterol levels that were, however, not associated with any acceleration of early atherosclerotic plaque progression. This observation suggests that the atheroprotective effect of macrophage apoptosis at that stage of disease was counterbalanced by enhanced cholesterol levels. Bcl-x KO(mac)/Apoe(-/-) mice exhibited significantly larger advanced lesions than control mice. These lesions showed vulnerable traits. Such enhanced lesion size may occur as a result not only of apoptotic cell accumulation but also of elevated cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Modulation of macrophage resistance to apoptosis through targeted deletion of Bcl-x has a major impact on the entire macrophage cell population in the body, including Küpffer cells. Macrophage survival may, therefore, not only influence atherosclerotic plaque development and vulnerability but also cholesterol metabolism.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein expression partially attenuates the adverse effects of SR-BI receptor deficiency on cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis.

Scavenger receptor SR-BI significantly contributes to HDL cholesterol metabolism and atherogenesis in mice. However, the role of SR-BI may not be as pronounced in humans due to cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity. To address the impact of CETP expression on the adverse effects associated with SR-BI deficiency, we cross-bred our SR-BI conditional knock-out mouse model with CETP transgenic mice. CETP almost completely restored the abnormal HDL-C distribution in SR-BI-deficient mice. However, it did not normalize the elevated plasma free to total cholesterol ratio characteristic of hepatic SR-BI deficiency. Red blood cell and platelet count abnormalities observed in mice liver deficient for SR-BI were partially restored by CETP, but the elevated erythrocyte cholesterol to phospholipid ratio remained unchanged. Complete deletion of SR-BI was associated with diminished adrenal cholesterol stores, whereas hepatic SR-BI deficiency resulted in a significant increase in adrenal gland cholesterol content. In both mouse models, CETP had no impact on adrenal cholesterol metabolism. In diet-induced atherosclerosis studies, hepatic SR-BI deficiency accelerated aortic lipid lesion formation in both CETP-expressing (4-fold) and non-CETP-expressing (8-fold) mice when compared with controls. Impaired macrophage to feces reverse cholesterol transport in mice deficient for SR-BI in liver, which was not corrected by CETP, most likely contributed by such an increase in atherosclerosis susceptibility. Finally, comparison of the atherosclerosis burden in SR-BI liver-deficient and fully deficient mice demonstrated that SR-BI exerted an atheroprotective activity in extra-hepatic tissues whether CETP was present or not. These findings support the contention that the SR-BI pathway contributes in unique ways to cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis susceptibility even in the presence of CETP.

Atheroprotective reverse cholesterol transport pathway is defective in familial hypercholesterolemia.

OBJECTIVE: Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are frequently observed in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and might be associated with functional alterations of HDL particles that may influence their efficaciousness in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated key steps of the reverse cholesterol transport, ie, cellular free cholesterol efflux, cholesteryl ester transfer protein-mediated cholesteryl ester (CE) transfer from HDL to apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, and hepatic HDL-CE uptake, in patients displaying FH (n = 12) and in healthy normolipidemic control subjects (n = 12). Large HDL2 particles isolated from FH patients displayed a reduced capacity to mediate free cholesterol efflux via both scavenger receptor-BI- and ABCG1-dependent pathways. A significant inverse relationship between scavenger receptor-BI-dependent HDL2 efflux capacity and carotid intima-media thickness (r = -0.473; P = 0.0186), as well as between ABCG1-dependent HDL2 efflux capacity and carotid intima-media thickness (r = -0.485; P = 0.0212), was detected. We also observed an elevated cholesteryl ester transfer protein-mediated CE transfer from HDL2 and HDL3 particles to low-density lipoprotein and a reduced capacity of HDL particles to deliver CEs to the liver. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the centripetal movement of cholesterol from peripheral tissues, including the vessel wall, to feces is defective in FH, thereby emphasizing its atherogenicity.

Conventional dendritic cells at the crossroads between immunity and cholesterol homeostasis in atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Immunoinflammatory mechanisms are implicated in the atherogenic process. The polarization of the immune response and the nature of the immune cells involved, however, are major determinants of the net effect, which may be either proatherogenic or antiatherogenic. Dendritic cells (DCs) are central to the regulation of immunity, the polarization of the immune response, and the induction of tolerance to antigens. The potential role of DCs in atherosclerosis, however, remains to be defined. METHODS AND RESULTS: We created a mouse model in which the lifespan and immunogenicity of conventional DCs are enhanced by specific overexpression of the antiapoptotic gene hBcl-2 under the control of the CD11c promoter. When studied in either low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient or apolipoprotein E-deficient backgrounds, DC-hBcl2 mice exhibited an expanded DC population associated with enhanced T-cell activation, a T-helper 1 and T-helper 17 cytokine expression profile, and elevated production of T-helper 1-driven IgG2c autoantibodies directed against oxidation-specific epitopes. This proatherogenic signature, however, was not associated with acceleration of atherosclerotic plaque progression, because expansion of the DC population was unexpectedly associated with an atheroprotective decrease in plasma cholesterol levels. Conversely, depletion of DCs in hyperlipidemic CD11c-diphtheria toxin receptor/apolipoprotein E-deficient transgenic mice resulted in enhanced cholesterolemia, thereby arguing for a close relationship between the DC population and plasma cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Considered together, the present data reveal that conventional DCs are central to the atherosclerotic process, because they are directly implicated in both cholesterol homeostasis and the immune response.

Macrophage apoptosis exerts divergent effects on atherogenesis as a function of lesion stage.

BACKGROUND: Because apoptotic cell clearance appears to be defective in advanced compared with early atherosclerotic plaques, macrophage apoptosis may differentially affect plaque progression as a function of lesion stage. METHODS AND RESULTS: We first evaluated the impact of targeted protection of macrophages against apoptosis at both early and advanced stages of atherosclerosis. Increased resistance of macrophages to apoptosis in early atherosclerotic lesions was associated with increased plaque burden; in contrast, it afforded protection against progression to advanced lesions. Conversely, sustained induction of apoptosis in lesional macrophages of advanced lesions resulted in a significant increase in lesion size. Such enhanced lesion size occurred as a result not only of apoptotic cell accumulation but also of elevated chemokine expression and subsequent intimal recruitment of circulating monocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Considered together, our data suggest that macrophage apoptosis is atheroprotective in fatty streak lesions, but in contrast, defective clearance of apoptotic debris in advanced lesions favors arterial wall inflammation and enhanced recruitment of monocytes, leading to enhanced atherogenesis.

Enhanced immune system activation and arterial inflammation accelerates atherosclerosis in lupus-prone mice.

OBJECTIVE: Premature atherosclerosis is a characteristic feature of systemic lupus erythematosus, a prototypic autoimmune disease. The principle cellular and molecular mechanisms which underlie such accelerated atherosclerosis are indeterminate. METHODS AND RESULTS: The pathophysiology of lupus-mediated atherogenesis was evaluated in a novel animal model involving transplantation of bone marrow cells from the lupus prone strain gld into Ldl-r(-/-) mice. Diet-induced atherogenesis in lethally-irradiated Ldl-r(-/-) mice transplanted with gld bone marrow cells resulted in accelerated atherosclerosis (+65%) as compared with control mice transplanted with wild-type marrow cells. Enhanced atherogenesis was associated with enhanced activation of both B and T lymphocytes and with arterial inflammation involving endothelial cell activation, monocyte recruitment, and accumulation of apoptotic debris, macrophages, and CD4 T cells, but was independent of plasma lipid levels and renal function. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the contention that despite the absence of both disturbed cholesterol homeostasis and renal dysfunction in autoimmune gld-->Ldl-r(-/-) mice, lupus disease induces enhanced activation of the immune system and acts locally on the vasculature to induce inflammation, together with accumulation of apoptotic debris, macrophages, and CD4 T cells, thereby accelerating plaque progression.

Promoting macrophage survival delays progression of pre-existing atherosclerotic lesions through macrophage-derived apoE.

AIMS: Macrophage apoptosis is a prominent feature of atherosclerosis, yet whether cell death-protected macrophages would favour the resolution of already established atherosclerotic lesions, and thus hold therapeutic potential, remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We irradiated then transplanted into Apoe(-/-) or LDLr(-/-) recipient mice harbouring established atherosclerotic lesions, bone marrow cells from mice displaying enhanced macrophage survival through overexpression of the antiapoptotic gene hBcl-2 (Mø-hBcl2 Apoe(-/-) or Mø-hBcl2 Apoe(+/+) LDLr(-/-)). Both recipient mice exhibited decreased lesional apoptotic cell content and reduced necrotic areas when repopulated with Mø-hBcl2 mouse-derived bone marrow cells. In contrast, only LDLr(-/-) recipients showed a reduction in plasma cholesterol levels and in atherosclerotic lesions. The absence of significant reduction of plasma cholesterol levels in the context of apoE deficiency highlighted macrophage-derived apoE as key in both the regulation of plasma and tissue cholesterol levels and the progression of pre-existing lesion. Accordingly, hBcl2 expression in macrophages was associated with larger pools of Kupffer cells and Ly-6C(low) monocytes, both high producers of apoE. Additionally, increased Kupffer cells population was associated with improved clearance of apoptotic cells and modified lipoproteins. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these data show that promoting macrophage survival provides a supplemental source of apoE, which hinders pre-existing plaque progression.

Enhanced dendritic cell survival attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced immunosuppression and increases resistance to lethal endotoxic shock.

Impaired immune function and associated immunosuppression are hallmarks of septic syndromes. As part of an overall deactivation of the immune system, profound depletion of dendritic cells (DCs) occurs in both septic patients and septic mice. Such depletion of DCs is potentially associated with immunosuppression and with failure to induce a protective Th1 immune response; it may equally be predictive of fatal outcome in septic patients. To evaluate the impact of enhanced DC survival on LPS-induced immunosuppression and on survival after LPS-induced septic shock, we created a transgenic mouse model specifically overexpressing the human form of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 in DCs (DC-hBcl-2 mice). DCs derived from DC-hBcl-2 mice exhibited higher resistance to maturation-induced apoptosis after LPS treatment both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, prolongation of DC survival diminished sublethal LPS-induced DC loss and immunosuppression, with maintenance of the differentiation potential of Th1 cells and enhanced T cell activation. Such modulation of the immune response appears to constitute a key feature of the attenuated mortality observed after LPS-induced shock in DC-hBcl-2 mice. Our study therefore identifies DC death as a key determinant of endotoxin-induced immunosuppression and mortality in mice.