{"id":3137,"date":"2025-06-10T12:21:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T10:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fondation-inserm.org\/atherosclerosis-the-immune-system-plays-a-role-in-cholesterol-elimination\/"},"modified":"2025-06-30T18:21:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T16:21:04","slug":"atherosclerosis-the-immune-system-plays-a-role-in-cholesterol-elimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fondation-inserm.org\/en\/atherosclerosis-the-immune-system-plays-a-role-in-cholesterol-elimination\/","title":{"rendered":"Atherosclerosis: the immune system plays a role in cholesterol elimination"},"content":{"rendered":"

Immune cells to fight atherosclerosis.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by the accumulation of<\/strong> cholesterol-containingatheromatous plaques<\/strong> along artery walls. These deposits can lead to blockages or ruptures, leading to serious pathologies such as heart attacks or strokes. However, a team of Inserm researchers led by Philippe Lesnik* has recently discovered that a population of immune cells called MAIT may play an important role in protecting against atherosclerosis. <\/p>\n

MAIT-deficient cells in atherosclerosis patients<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Inserm team observed a deficiency in MAIT cells, also known as Mucosal-Associated Invariant T cells, in patients with atherosclerosis. These cells, found mainly in mucous membranes, recognize bacterial components and protect against infection. However, their activity has also been associated with other pathologies such as graft-versus-host disease, liver fibrosis and type 1 diabetes. <\/p>\n

To study their role in atherosclerosis, the researchers conducted experiments on mice, stimulating or inhibiting the production of MAIT cells. They then subjected these mice to a diet rich in cholesterol, known to promote atherosclerotic plaque formation. <\/p>\n

A protective mechanism against atherosclerosis<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The results showed that mice deficient in MAIT cells rapidly developed atherosclerotic plaques, while those with an overabundance of these cells showed a reduction in disease. The researchers discovered that these cells were involved in the activation of a molecular pathway, the IL-22 pathway, which promotes cholesterol excretion via the intestinal tract. Thus, MAIT cells contribute to the reduction of cholesterol accumulation in atherosclerotic plaques. <\/p>\n

The researchers hope to pursue their research in humans to develop new therapeutic strategies targeting MAIT cells to combat atherosclerosis.<\/p>\n

*Philippe Lesnik is Inserm Research Director in the Cardiovascular Diseases of Metabolism and Nutrition research unit <\/i> (ICAN, unit 1166, Inserm\/Sorbonne University), in Paris.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Sources :<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

H. Wang et al. MAIT Cells Promote Cholesterol Excretion Pathways Mitigating Atherosclerosis. Circulation Research <\/bdo>March 26, 2025; DOI:10.1161\/circresaha.124.325841<\/a><\/p>\n

This article has been adapted from content published by Inserm. Find the source article and all references on the Inserm website. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Immune cells to fight atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by the accumulation of cholesterol-containingatheromatous plaques along artery walls. These deposits can lead to blockages or ruptures, leading to serious pathologies such as heart attacks or strokes. However, a team of Inserm researchers led by Philippe Lesnik* has recently discovered that a population of immune … Continue reading “Atherosclerosis: the immune system plays a role in cholesterol elimination”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-news"],"yoast_head":"\nAtherosclerosis: the immune system plays a role in cholesterol elimination - Inserm Fondation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by the accumulation of cholesterol-containing atheromatous plaques along the walls of the arteries...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fondation-inserm.org\/en\/atherosclerosis-the-immune-system-plays-a-role-in-cholesterol-elimination\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Atherosclerosis: the immune system plays a role in cholesterol elimination - 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