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September 26, 2026Journal of the American College of CardiologyOpen Access

Phosphorylcholine-Targeting Immunization Reduces Atherosclerosis

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Why the study?

Phosphorylcholine-specific antibodies might play an important role in atherogenesis, but the effect of PC immunization on atherosclerosis was not evaluated.

Does phosphorylcholine immunization reduce experimental atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E knockout mice?

Population

Apolipoprotein E knockout mice

Comparison

Phosphorylcholine immunization every second week over 4 months vs control mice

Design

Preclinical experimental study

Follow-up

4 months

Authors

GCGiuseppina CaligiuriGeneral / Preventive / LipidsJKJamila Khallou‐LaschetInsermMVMarta VandaeleCentre de Recherche des Cordeliers

Discussion

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Implication

Extends preclinical evidence for PC immunization in mice; leaves open translation to human atherosclerosis.

Key Points

  • To evaluate the impact of phosphorylcholine immunization on specific antibody responses and the progression of experimental atherosclerosis.
  • Apolipoprotein E knockout mice received biweekly phosphorylcholine immunizations over a 4-month period.
  • Serum antibody titers, splenic and peritoneal B-cell counts via flow cytometry, and aortic root atherosclerotic lesion morphometry and immunohistochemistry were assessed.
  • Immune serum was tested for its inhibitory effect on macrophage foam cell formation induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein in vitro.
  • Phosphorylcholine-immunized mice demonstrated a 3-fold increase in anti-phosphorylcholine and anti-oxidized LDL antibody titers (p < 0.01) along with a significant expansion of splenic mature B cells.
  • Aortic root atherosclerotic lesion area was reduced by >40% in immunized mice (p < 0.01), accompanied by reduced major histocompatibility complex class II antigen expression (p < 0.05).
  • Immune serum from treated mice significantly reduced oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced macrophage foam cell formation in vitro.

Structured PICO

Does phosphorylcholine immunization reduce experimental atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E knockout mice?

P
Population
Apolipoprotein E knockout mice and in vitro macrophage culture
I
Intervention
Phosphorylcholine (PC) immunization every second week over 4 months
C
Comparator
Control mice (in vivo) and control sera (in vitro)
O
Outcome
Extent of atherosclerotic aorta root lesions quantified by morphometrysurrogate

Phosphorylcholine immunization reduces atherosclerotic lesion size and foam cell formation in an ApoE knockout mouse model, suggesting a potential atheroprotective immune mechanism.

Cite This Study

Caligiuri et al. (2007) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ab7e1b2b0b7d0eae2e837b5https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2006.11.054
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1IFN-gamma potentiates atherosclerosis in ApoE knock-out mice.1997 · 874 citations
  2. 2Immunization of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-deficient rabbits with homologous malondialdehyde-modified LDL reduces atherogenesis.1995 · 597 citations
  3. 3The macrophage scavenger receptor type A directs modified proteins to antigen presentation1999 · 119 citations
  4. 4Lesion Development and Response to Immunization Reveal a Complex Role for CD4 in Atherosclerosis2005 · 141 citations
  5. 5Autoantibodies to OxLDL fail to alter the clearance of injected OxLDL in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice2004 · 31 citations