[Research Articles] Brain-released alarmins and stress response synergize in accelerating atherosclerosis progression after stroke

Stroke induces a multiphasic systemic immune response, but the consequences of this response on atherosclerosis—a major source of recurrent vascular events—have not been thoroughly investigated. We show that stroke exacerbates atheroprogression via alarmin-mediated propagation of vascular inflammation. The prototypic brain-released alarmin high-mobility group box 1 protein induced monocyte and endothelial activation via the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)–signaling cascade and increased plaque load and vulnerability. Recruitment of activated monocytes via the CC-chemokine ligand 2–CC-chemokine receptor type 2 pathway was critical in stroke-induced vascular inflammation. Neutralization of circulating alarmins or knockdown of RAGE attenuated atheroprogression. Blockage of β3-adrenoreceptors attenuated the egress of myeloid monocytes after stroke, whereas neutralization of circulating alarmins was required to reduce systemic monocyte activation and aortic invasion. Our findings identify a synergistic effect of the sympathetic stress response and alarmin-driven inflammation via RAGE as a critical mechanism of exacerbated atheroprogression after stroke.

Source: Science Translational Medicine - March 14, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Roth, S., Singh, V., Tiedt, S., Schindler, L., Huber, G., Geerlof, A., Antoine, D. J., Anfray, A., Orset, C., Gauberti, M., Fournier, A., Holdt, L. M., Harris, H. E., Engelhardt, B., Bianchi, M. E., Vivien, D., Haffner, C., Bernhagen, J., Dichgans, M., Li Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research