Toll-like receptor 7 deficiency protects apolipoprotein E-deficient mice from diet-induced atherosclerosis.

Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) mediates autoantigen and viral RNA-induced cytokine production. Increased TLR7 expression in human atherosclerotic lesions suggests its involvement in atherogenesis. Here we demonstrated TLR7 expression in macrophages, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and endothelial cells from mouse atherosclerotic lesions. To test a direct participation of TLR7 in atherosclerosis, we crossbred TLR7-deficient (Tlr7 -/-) mice with apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe -/-) mice and produced Apoe -/- Tlr7 -/- and Apoe -/- Tlr7 +/+ littermates, followed by feeding them an atherogenic diet to produce atherosclerosis. Compared to Apoe -/- Tlr7 +/+ mice, Apoe -/- Tlr7 -/- mice showed reduced aortic arch and sinus lesion areas. Reduced atherosclerosis in Apoe -/- Tlr7 -/- mice did not affect lesion macrophage-positive area and CD4+ T-cell number per lesion area, but reduced lesion expression of inflammatory markers major histocompatibility complex-class II and IL6, lesion matrix-degrading proteases cathepsin S and matrix metalloproteinase-9, and systemic serum amyloid A levels. TLR7 deficiency also reduced aortic arch SMC loss and lesion intima and media cell apoptosis. However, TLR7 deficiency did not affect aortic wall elastin fragmentation and collagen contents, or plasma lipoproteins. Therefore, TLR7 contributes to atherogenesis in Apoe -/- mice by regulating lesion and systemic inflammation. A TLR7 antagonist may mitigate atherosclerosis.

Deficiency of FcϵR1 Increases Body Weight Gain but Improves Glucose Tolerance in Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Prior studies demonstrated increased plasma IgE in diabetic patients, but the direct participation of IgE in diabetes or obesity remains unknown. This study found that plasma IgE levels correlated inversely with body weight, body mass index, and body fat mass among a population of randomly selected obese women. IgE receptor FcϵR1-deficient (Fcer1a(-/-)) mice and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice demonstrated that FcϵR1 deficiency in DIO mice increased food intake, reduced energy expenditure, and increased body weight gain but improved glucose tolerance and glucose-induced insulin secretion. White adipose tissue from Fcer1a(-/-) mice showed an increased expression of phospho-AKT, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, glucose transporter-4 (Glut4), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) but reduced uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) expression, tissue macrophage accumulation, and apoptosis, suggesting that IgE reduces adipogenesis and glucose uptake but induces energy expenditure, adipocyte apoptosis, and white adipose tissue inflammation. In 3T3-L1 cells, IgE inhibited the expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and preadipocyte adipogenesis and induced adipocyte apoptosis. IgE reduced the 3T3-L1 cell expression of Glut4, phospho-AKT, and glucose uptake, which concurred with improved glucose tolerance in Fcer1a(-/-) mice. This study established two novel pathways of IgE in reducing body weight gain in DIO mice by suppressing adipogenesis and inducing adipocyte apoptosis while worsening glucose tolerance by reducing Glut4 expression, glucose uptake, and insulin secretion.