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Chronic Infections and Atherosclerosis

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Abstract

The immune response against heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) derived from pathogens causing chronic infections is thought to be an important pro-atherogenic mechanism because high serum levels of antibodies against HSP60 have been associated with atherosclerotic diseases, such as coronary artery diseases, or cerebro-vascular events. Furthermore, the presence of HSP60-specific T lymphocytes in circulation may increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Our recent in vitro and in vivo studies have also shown an association of Helicobacter pylori-HSP60 (Hp-HSP60) specific Th1 immune responses elicited by H. pylori infection with the progression of atherosclerosis in a hyperlipidemic mouse model. These Th1 dominant immune responses may cross-react with endogenous HSP60 expressed on stressed cells of the vascular endothelium, likely due to molecular mimicry. However, the exact mechanisms by which endothelial cells display their HSP60 molecule or present HSP60 antigenic epitopes on the surface are still unclear.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan

    Kiyoshi Ayada & Keiji Oguma

  2. Graduate School of Health Science, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan

    Kenji Yokota

  3. Department of Cell Chemistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan

    Kazuko Kobayashi & Eiji Matsuura

  4. Department of Medicine ‘B’ and Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, 52621, Israel

    Yehuda Shoenfeld

  5. Incumbent of the Laura Schwarz-Kipp Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Yehuda Shoenfeld

Authors
  1. Kiyoshi Ayada
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  2. Kenji Yokota
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  3. Kazuko Kobayashi
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  4. Yehuda Shoenfeld
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  5. Eiji Matsuura
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  6. Keiji Oguma
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Correspondence to Eiji Matsuura.

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Ayada, K., Yokota, K., Kobayashi, K. et al. Chronic Infections and Atherosclerosis. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 37, 44–48 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-008-8097-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-008-8097-7

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