The coreceptor cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is pivotal in regulating the threshold of signals during T cell activation, although the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. Using in vitro migration assays and in vivo two-photon laser scanning microscopy, we showed that CTLA-4 increases T cell motility and overrides the T cell receptor (TCR)–induced stop signal required for stable conjugate formation between T cells and antigen-presenting cells. This event led to reduced contact periods between T cells and antigen-presenting cells that in turn decreased cytokine production and proliferation. These results suggest a fundamentally different model of reverse stop signaling, by which CTLA-4 modulates the threshold for T cell activation and protects against autoimmunity.

Objective—: Sclerostin (SOST) has been identified as an important regulator of bone formation; however, it has not been previously implicated in arterial disease. The aim of this study was to assess the role of SOST in aortic aneurysm (AA) and atherosclerosis using human samples, a mouse model, and in vitro investigations. Approach and Results—: SOST protein was downregulated in human and mouse AA samples compared with controls. Transgenic introduction of human SOST in apolipoprotein E–deficient ( ApoE ^−/− ) mice ( SOST ^Tg . ApoE ^−/− ) and administration of recombinant mouse Sost inhibited angiotensin II–induced AA and atherosclerosis. Serum concentrations of several proinflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced in SOST ^Tg . ApoE ^−/− mice. Compared with controls, the aortas of mice receiving recombinant mouse Sost and SOST ^Tg . ApoE ^−/− mice showed reduced matrix degradation, reduced elastin breaks, and preserved collagen. Decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and a reduction in the expression of wingless-type mouse mammary virus integration site/β-catenin responsive genes, including matrix metalloproteinase-9, osteoprotegerin, and osteopontin, were observed in the aortas of SOST ^Tg . ApoE ^−/− mice. SOST expression was downregulated and the wingless-type mouse mammary virus integration site/β-catenin pathway was activated in human AA samples. The cytosine–phosphate–guanine islands in the SOST gene promoter showed significantly higher methylation in human AA samples compared with controls. Incubation of vascular smooth muscle cells with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine resulted in upregulation of SOST, suggesting that SOST is epigenetically regulated. Conclusions—: This study identifies that SOST is expressed in the aorta and downregulated in human AA possibly because of epigenetic silencing. Upregulating SOST inhibits AA and atherosclerosis development, with potential important implications for treating these vascular diseases.

The behavior of antigen-specific CD4⁺ T lymphocytes during initial exposure to antigen probably influences their decision to become primed or tolerized, but this has not been examined directly in vivo. We have therefore tracked such cells in real time, in situ during the induction of oral priming versus oral tolerance. There were marked contrasts with respect to rate and type of movement and clustering between naive T cells and those exposed to antigen in immunogenic or tolerogenic forms. However, the major difference when comparing tolerized and primed T cells was that the latter formed larger and longer-lived clusters within mucosal and peripheral lymph nodes. This is the first comparison of the behavior of antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells in situ in mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues during the induction of priming versus tolerance in a physiologically relevant model in vivo.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteopontin (OPN) have been identified within unstable atherosclerosis and circulating concentrates have been linked to cardiovascular events. We studied the influence of OPG and OPN on endothelial adhesion molecule expression and monocyte binding. Resting or tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) activated human endothelial cells were incubated with OPG (0, 0.5, 5, and 10 ng/mL) or OPN (0, 2.5, 10 and 50 nmol/L). The expression of endothelial genes and proteins was investigated with the Oligo GEArray microarray series, multiplexed gene expression analysis, flow cytometry, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Monocyte-binding studies were carried out using fluorescently labeled THP-1 cells and analysed by flow cytometry. OPG but not OPN stimulated a dose-dependent increase in the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin by endothelial cells in the presence of TNF-alpha (p<or=0.05) which was reflected by enhanced binding of THP-1 monocytes. In the absence of TNF-alpha, OPG had no significant effect on adhesion molecule expression but upregulated angiopoietin-2. When the induction of angiopoietin-2 was inhibited using interfering RNA the ability of OPG to upregulate adhesion molecules in the presence of TNF-alpha was abolished. OPN did not effect adhesion molecule expression by resting or activated endothelial cells. OPG upregulates angiopoietin-2 in human endothelial cells sensitizing them to the effects of TNF-alpha. These findings suggest a mechanism by which OPG may stimulate inflammation in atheroma and thereby promote the progression and complications of atherosclerosis.

Background: An animal model commonly used to investigate pathways and potential therapeutic interventions relevant to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) involves subcutaneous infusion of angiotensin II within the apolipoprotein E deficient mouse. The aim of this study was to investigate genes differentially expressed in aneurysms forming within this mouse model in order to assess the relevance of this model to human AAA.Results: Using microarrays we identified genes relevant to aneurysm formation within apolipoprotein E deficient mice. Firstly we investigated genes differentially expressed in the aneurysm prone segment of the suprarenal aorta in these mice. Secondly we investigated genes that were differentially expressed in the aortas of mice developing aneurysms relative to those that did not develop aneurysms in response to angiotensin II infusion. Our findings suggest that a host of inflammation and extracellular matrix remodelling pathways are upregulated within the aorta in mice developing aneurysms. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome categories enriched in the aortas of mice with aneurysms included cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, leukocyte transendothelial migration, natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity and hematopoietic cell lineage. Genes associated with extracellular matrix remodelling, such as a range of matrix metalloproteinases were also differentially expressed in relation to aneurysm formation.Conclusion: This study is the first report describing whole genome expression arrays in the apolipoprotein E deficient mice in relation to aneurysm formation. The findings suggest that the pathways believed to be critical in human AAA are also relevant to aneurysm formation in this mouse model. The findings therefore support the value of this model to investigate interventions and mechanisms of human AAA.