Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research Highlight
  • Published:

INFLAMMATION

IL-1 signalling in atherosclerosis

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 16, page 200 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

The α and β isoforms of IL-1 have differential effects on atherosclerosis, according to new experimental data. These findings are important to consider when selecting anti-inflammatory therapies for patients with cardiovascular disease and are particularly relevant in the context of the CANTOS trial.

During early atherogenesis in Apoe–/– mice fed a Western diet, treatment with monoclonal antibodies against IL-1α or against both IL-1 isoforms decreased atherosclerotic lesion area and compensatory outward remodelling in the aortic root, whereas antibodies against IL-1β did not impair outward vessel remodelling. In hypercholesterolaemic Apoe–/– mice with established atherosclerosis, selective IL-1β neutralization promoted a shift in circulating monocytes to a less inflammatory state, increased the levels of circulating IL-10 (an anti-inflammatory cytokine) and decreased the area of established atheromata in the aortic root, without limiting outward vessel remodelling. By contrast, IL-1α neutralization had no significant effect on established atheromata. These findings indicate that IL-1α is involved in early atherogenesis, whereas IL-1β drives inflammation during the evolution of advanced atheroma.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

Original article

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nature Reviews Cardiology http://www.nature.com/nrcardio/

    Gregory B. Lim

Authors
  1. Gregory B. Lim
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gregory B. Lim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lim, G.B. IL-1 signalling in atherosclerosis. Nat Rev Cardiol 16, 200 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-019-0172-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-019-0172-7

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing