Aberrant levels and function of the potent anti-inflammatory high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and accelerated atherosclerosis have been reported in patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Whether HDL affects the development of an autoimmune response remains elusive. In this study, we used apolipoprotein A-I–deficient (apoA-I−/−) mice, characterized by diminished circulating HDL levels, to delineate the role of HDL in autoimmunity. ApoA-I−/− mice exhibited increased severity of Ag-induced arthritis compared with wild-type mice, and this was associated with elevated Th1 and Th17 cell reactivity in the draining lymph nodes. Furthermore, reconstituted HDL (rHDL) attenuated IFN-γ and IL-17 secretion by Ag-specific T cells upon stimulation of draining lymph nodes in vitro. The suppressive effects of rHDL were mediated through modulation of dendritic cell (DC) function. Specifically, rHDL-treated DCs demonstrated an immature phenotype characterized by downregulated costimulatory molecules, the release of low amounts of proinflammatory cytokines, and failure to promote T cell proliferation in vitro. The mechanism of action involved the inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation and the decrease of Myd88 mRNA levels by rHDL. Finally, modulation of DC function by rHDL was critically dependent on the presence of scavenger receptor class B type I and ATP Binding Cassette Transporter A1, but not the ATP Binding Cassette Transporter G1. These findings reveal a novel role of HDL in the regulation of adaptive inflammatory responses through suppression of DC function that could be exploited therapeutically in autoimmune inflammatory diseases.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) constitutes a heterogeneous population of particles that is characterized by great complexity in terms of structure and functionality (1). Although it has been best recognized for its inverse correlation with cardiovascular events (2, 3), accumulating evidence has revealed novel roles of HDL in cholesterol metabolism, endothelial integrity, and inflammation (4, 5). HDL metabolism entails the successive interactions of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major protein component of HDL, with the ATP binding cassette transporters (ABC) ABCA1, ABCG1, and the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) (6). Numerous studies have implicated each of these transporters in HDL’s antiatherogenic actions involving mechanisms such as cholesterol efflux and activation of HDL-induced signaling pathways (79). However, under certain conditions, HDL can become functionally defective. In fact, the protective functions of HDL are compromised in patients with coronary heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases (1012).

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease manifested by leukocyte infiltration into the synovial lining leading to cartilage destruction and bone erosion (13, 14). RA pathology is critically dependent on the presence of autoreactive IFN-γ–producing Th1 and IL-17–releasing Th17 CD4+ cell subsets, and proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (15). RA is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and the majority of these patients are dyslipidemic (16). Interestingly, although HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) levels are decreased, the levels of proinflammatory HDL are increased in RA patients (17). In support, antirheumatic drugs improve both HDL functionality and cholesterol levels (16). In vivo studies using animal models of arthritis have suggested a protective role of apoA-I and reconstituted HDL (rHDL). Particularly, treatment of rats with an apoA-I mimetic peptide inhibited collagen-induced arthritis and reduced inflammatory cytokine levels (18). Moreover, administration of apoA-I or rHDL attenuated peptidoglycan-polysaccharide–induced arthritis in Lewis female rats in an ABCA1-dependent manner (19). Although studies have shown that HDL can modulate the activity of various immune cell subsets (12), the mechanism through which HDL regulates autoreactive T cell responses in vivo remains elusive.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional APCs that carry Ags in the draining lymph nodes (dLNs) and promote the activation, differentiation, and polarization of naive T cells into effector Th cell subsets (20). Specifically, mature DCs present the Ag in the context of MHC and provide costimulatory signals that are required for efficient activation and priming of T cells. Furthermore, through secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, DCs direct the polarization of T cell toward the different T cell lineages. Ag recognition in the presence of IL-12 favors the generation of Th1 cells, whereas IL-6 and IL-23 drive the generation of Th17 effector cells (2123). Because Th1 and Th17 cells and proinflammatory cytokines orchestrate the autoimmune responses in RA, strategies aiming at modulation of DC function and subsequent suppression of autoreactive Th1/Th17 responses might provide novel targets in the design of therapeutic protocols for the treatment of this disease.

In this study, we show that rHDL exerts its anti-inflammatory actions through modulation of DC maturation and function, and that rHDL-exposed DCs suppress T cell proliferation in vitro. Of interest, apoA-I−/− mice that lack conventional HDL develop severe arthritis and elevated Th1 and Th17 cell responses. Finally, our findings support a critical role of SR-BI and ABCA1 transporters in the rHDL-mediated anti-inflammatory function of DCs.

Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 and apoA-I−/− (ApoA1tm1Unc) mice on a C57BL/6 background were obtained from the specific pathogen-free animal facility of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Heraklion, Greece). Mice were maintained on a 12-h light/dark cycle and fed standard rodent chow. Femurs and tibias were obtained from ABCA1−/− (24), ABCG1−/− (Deltagen, San Carlos, CA), and SR-BI−/− mice (25). All experimental protocols were in accordance with institutional guidelines and were approved by the Greek Federal Veterinary Office.

Cell cultures were maintained in complete medium consisting of DMEM (Invitrogen), supplemented with 10% FBS (Biochrom) and antibiotic-antimycotic solution (Invitrogen). For flow-cytometric analysis, the following fluorescent-conjugated Abs were used: anti-CD11b (M1/70) and anti–MHC class II (MHC-II; AF6-120.1) were purchased from BD Biosciences. Abs against CD3 (145-2C11), CD4 (RM4-5), CD8a (53-6.7), CD44 (IM7), CD45R/B220 (RA3-6B2), Ly-6G/Ly-6C (Gr-1) (RB6-8C5), CD11c (N418), CD40 (3/23), CD80 (16-10A1), and CD86 (GL-1) were all purchased from Biolegend.

Mice were immunized s.c. at the base of the tail with 100 μg methylated BSA (mBSA; Sigma-Aldrich) in 50 μl PBS emulsified with equal volume of CFA (Sigma-Aldrich). On day 21 postimmunization, mice were injected intra-articularly (i.a.) with 50 μg mBSA in 20 μl PBS into the left knee joint. The swelling of the joint was evaluated by daily measurement (days 21–30) of the knee diameter (mm) using a digital vernier caliper (Cocraft). Nine days after i.a. injection (day 30), mice were euthanized and blood and tissues were collected.

Tissues were fixed in 3.7% formaldehyde for 24 h, and legs were decalcified in Schaefer solution for 2–3 d. Tissues were embedded in paraffin, and 4-μm-thick sections were stained with H&E. Specimens were blindly evaluated by two pathologists. Histological grade of arthritis was determined as follows: 0 = normal knee joint, 1 = normal synovium or mild synovial reaction with scarce inflammatory cells, 2 = moderate synovial reaction and moderate density of inflammatory cells, 3 = severe synovial hyperplasia and dense population of inflammatory cells, and 4 = pannus formation associated with articular cartilage erosion. The extent of skin inflammation was evaluated by scoring samples separately for the following parameters: severity of inflammation, extent of epidermal changes, and size of abscesses. A total histological score was assessed by summing the scores (0 = normal, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) for each parameter. The range of possible score was 0–9. Histopathology images were captured using a Nikon Eclipse E-400 microscope and Nikon Digital sight, DS-SM, photographic system. Images were autocorrected in Windows Photo Manager.

Mice were euthanized and blood was collected by cardiac puncture after a 4-h fast. Serum was isolated, and an aliquot was used for HDL preparation. In brief, equal volumes of dextran sulfate (MP Biomedicals) and MgCl2 stock solutions were mixed to produce the precipitation solution consisting of 10 g/l dextran sulfate and 0.5 M MgCl2. Serum samples were mixed thoroughly with precipitation solution at a volume ratio of 10:1 and incubated for 10 min at room temperature. The mixture was centrifuged for 40 min at 14,000 × g at 4°C, and the HDL-containing supernatant was collected for determination of cholesterol levels and functionality assays. Total cholesterol and HDL-c were measured using a commercially available assay (Thermo Scientific) according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity was determined in HDL preparations from mouse serum using paraoxon as substrate. In brief, 5 μl HDL was added in 245 μl buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, and 2 mM CaCl2) containing 1.1 mM paraoxon (Sigma-Aldrich), and the absorbance at 405 nm was measured every 40 s for 20 min at room temperature in a microplate spectrophotometer. The rate of p-nitrophenol formed by the hydrolysis of paraoxon was determined by monitoring the increase in absorbance. PON-1 activity was expressed as units per liter (U/l) of HDL with 1 U defined as the activity that catalyzes the formation of 1 μmol p-nitrophenol per minute.

Recombinant apoA-I was produced and purified from the culture medium of adenovirus-infected HTB-13 cells as previously described (26). rHDL particles were prepared by the sodium cholate dialysis method (27) using POPC/cholesterol/apoA-I/sodium cholate in a molar ratio of 100:10:1:100 as previously described (28). The rHDL preparation was extensively dialyzed against PBS, and the formation of apolipoprotein–lipid complexes was verified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (29, 30). Concentration of rHDL was based on apoA-I content and was determined by DC Protein Assay (Bio-Rad).

Female mice (8–10 wk old) were immunized s.c. at the base of the tail with 100 μg OVA (Sigma-Aldrich) emulsified in equal volume of CFA. dLNs were excised 9 d later and single-cell suspensions were prepared. dLN cells (dLNCs) were cultured in flat-bottom, 96-well plates (5 × 105 cells/well) in the presence of OVA (15 μg/ml) and/or increasing concentrations of rHDL (1 μM = 28 μg/ml) for 72 h. Cells were then pulsed with 1 μCi [3H]thymidine (TRK120; Amersham Biosciences) for 18 h, and the incorporated radioactivity was measured using a Beckman beta counter. Cytokine levels in culture supernatants were determined by ELISA and cells were analyzed by flow cytometry after 48 h of stimulation.

Bone marrow–derived DCs (BMDCs) were generated from bone marrow progenitors, as previously described (31). In brief, bone marrow was isolated from femurs and tibias of female mice, treated with RBC lysis buffer (155 mM NH4Cl, 10 mM KHCO3, 0.1 mM Na2EDTA), and plated at 2.5 × 106 cells per 100-mm cell culture dish in complete medium supplemented with 20% supernatant from a murine GM-CSF–secreting cell line (X63Ag8; kindly provided by B. Stockinger, National Institute of Medical Research, London, U.K.) (32). The culture medium was half-renewed on days 3, 6, and 8. On day 9, nonadherent cells were collected and cultured in 24-well tissue culture plates (1 × 106 cells/well) in the presence of either 0.5 μg/ml LPS from Escherichia coli O111: B4 (Calbiochem) or 20 μg/ml zymosan (Invivogen) and/or 4 μM rHDL. BMDCs were harvested as indicated for RNA, Western blot, and FACS analysis. Culture supernatants were collected at 12 or 18 h for cytokine analysis by ELISA.

BMDCs from WT mice were stimulated with 0.25 μg/ml LPS and pulsed with 20 μg/ml OVA in the presence or absence of 4 μM rHDL for 12 h. Cells were collected and washed to remove excess LPS, OVA, and rHDL, and were cocultured with dLNCs isolated from OVA-immunized mice (9 d postimmunization) as described earlier. Culture supernatants were harvested 48 h later.

Cytokine levels in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA kits following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Mouse IL-17, IFN-γ, IL-12 p70, IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α were purchased from R&D Systems. Mouse IL-23 and IL-2 were obtained from eBioscience, and IL-10 from Biolegend.

Cells were stained by incubation with fluorescent-conjugated Abs for 20 min at 4°C in PBS/5% FBS. Intracellular Foxp3 staining was performed using the Alexa Fluor 488 anti-mouse Foxp3 Ab (Biolegend) and the Foxp3/Transcription Factor Staining Buffer Set (eBioscience), according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Cells were acquired on a FACSCalibur (BD Biosciences), and data were analyzed using the FlowJo software (Tree Star).

Total RNA was prepared from mouse BMDCs using TRIzol reagent according to the manufacturer’s protocol (Invitrogen). For each sample, 1 μg isolated RNA was used for cDNA synthesis with SuperScript II Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen). Quantitative PCR was performed on a StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems) using KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR Master Mix (Kapa Biosystems). The primer sequences were as follows: mouse Hprt, forward 5′-CGAAGTGTTGGATACAGGCC-3′ and reverse 5′-GGCAACATCAACAGGACTCC-3′; mouse Myd88, forward 5′-CCACCCTTGATGACCCCCTA-3′ and reverse 5′-TGCGGCGACACCTTTTCTC-3′; mouse Trif, forward 5′-TCTACCAGCTCAAGACCCCT-3′ and reverse 5′-GTCAGCCTGTCCCTTTCCAA-3′; mouse Atf3, forward 5′-GAGCTGAGATTCGCCATCCA-3′ and reverse 5′-CCGCCTCCTTTTCCTCTCAT-3′. Melting curve analysis was performed to ensure primer specificity. The expression of the target genes was normalized to the expression of the housekeeping gene, Hprt, and the normalized threshold cycle (Ct) values were calibrated against the control condition (untreated BMDCs) for each sample. The relative gene expression levels were determined using the relative standard curve method and the comparative Ct method (ΔΔCt method) as described in Applied Biosystems Guide.

BMDCs were lysed on ice for 30 min in radioimmunoprecipitation assay lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 0.1% SDS, and 0.5% sodium deoxycholate) supplemented with cOmplete Proteade Inhibitor Cocktail (Roche), 5 mM NaF, 1 mM Na3VO4, and centrifuged at 13,000 × g for 30 min at 4°C. The supernatant was collected as total cell lysate, and protein concentration was determined by DC Protein Assay (Bio-Rad). Thirty micrograms total cell protein per sample were denatured by boiling for 10 min, loaded onto a 10.5% SDS polyacrylamide gel, and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane (GE Healthcare Life Sciences). Blots were incubated with primary Abs to anti–p-Stat3 (Tyr705; Cell Signaling) and anti-STAT3 (BD Biosciences). Anti-actin Ab (Merck Millipore) was used as loading control. After incubation with HRP-conjugated secondary Abs (Jackson Immunoresearch Laboratories), proteins were visualized on a ChemiDoc XRS+ imaging system (BioRad), and band intensities were quantified using the Image Lab Software (BioRad).

BMDCs were seeded onto poly-L-lysine (Sigma-Aldrich)–coated coverslips in 24-well tissue culture plates (1 × 106 cells/well). Twenty-four hours later, cells were stimulated with 0.5 μg/ml LPS and treated with 4 μM rHDL for 2 h. Cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde (Sigma-Aldrich), permeabilized with PBS-Triton X-100 0.5%, and incubated with anti-p65 (sc-109; Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Alexa Fluor 555 Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG (Molecular Probes) was used as secondary Ab. DNA was stained with 1 μg/ml DAPI, and coverslips were mounted on Mowiol 4-88 (Sigma-Aldrich). Images were acquired using a confocal laser scanning microscope (TCS SP8; Leica Microsystems) and an HC PL APO CS2 40×/1.30 oil objective using identical settings within each experiment. Images were obtained using the LAS AF v3.3 software (Leica Microsystems) and processed with Adobe Photoshop 7.0 (Adobe Systems). A total of 100 cells from 4 different fields from each slide was analyzed for fluorescence intensity of nucleus and cytoplasm using the National Institutes of Health ImageJ software.

Data are expressed as mean ± SEM unless stated otherwise. Statistical significance was determined using two-tailed Student t test. The χ2 test was used for categorical variables. For all results, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism software (version 5.00; GraphPad).

HDL-c levels are significantly reduced in various autoimmune conditions such as RA (16); however, whether there is a role for HDL in induction and perpetuation of the autoimmune response remains elusive. We investigated the development of Ag-induced arthritis (AIA) in apoA-I−/− mice that are characterized by very low serum HDL-c levels (∼25% of normal) (33). AIA is induced upon i.a. injection of mBSA in mBSA-sensitized animals (Fig. 1A) and serves as a model for RA (34, 35). Interestingly, apoA-I−/− mice developed increased severity of AIA compared with WT animals (Fig. 1B). This result correlated well with the histological examination of injected knee joints of apoA-I−/− mice, which developed extensive pannus formation (grade 4), contrary to WT mice, which exhibited moderate-to-severe inflammation (grades 2–3; *p = 0.0393 for pannus versus nonpannus; Fig. 1C, 1D). A striking observation was the extensive inflammatory reaction in the skin of apoA-I−/− mice 3 wk after immunization as opposed to WT mice (Fig. 1E), which was characterized by significant epidermis alterations at the site of the injection including ulceration, dense inflammation in the dermis with abundant neutrophil infiltration, and formation of large abscesses (Fig. 1F, 1G; data not shown). In contrast, WT mice showed moderate inflammatory reaction in the dermis and occasional small neutrophil aggregates (Fig. 1F, 1G). Collectively, these findings indicate that decreased levels of circulating HDL are associated with exacerbation of inflammatory arthritis and severe inflammatory reactions in the skin.

FIGURE 1.

ApoA-I−/− mice demonstrate an aggravated AIA phenotype. (A) WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 13/group) were immunized s.c. with mBSA/CFA, and arthritis was induced upon i.a. injection of mBSA 21 d later. (B) Evaluation of arthritis by measurement of knee joint swelling daily after i.a. injection (n = 8–9/group; day 4: *p = 0.0233, day 5: *p = 0.0455, day 6: *p = 0.0182). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. (C) Representative H&E-stained sections of inflamed joints from WT (moderate arthritis) and apoA-I−/− mice (pannus), as well as noninjected knee joint (normal), are shown (original magnification ×200). (D) Histological scores for AIA in WT and apoA-I−/− mice. The histopathologies of injected knee joints were scored as described in 2Materials and Methods; *p = 0.0393 for pannus versus nonpannus. (E) Photos of skin lesions in apoA-I−/− mice 21 d after mBSA immunization. (F) Representative H&E-stained sections of normal and inflamed skin (original magnification ×20 [left panels], ×400 [right panels]). (G) Histological grading of skin inflammation developed in WT and apoA-I−/− mice (*p = 0.0239). In all panels, data are from two independent experiments.

FIGURE 1.

ApoA-I−/− mice demonstrate an aggravated AIA phenotype. (A) WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 13/group) were immunized s.c. with mBSA/CFA, and arthritis was induced upon i.a. injection of mBSA 21 d later. (B) Evaluation of arthritis by measurement of knee joint swelling daily after i.a. injection (n = 8–9/group; day 4: *p = 0.0233, day 5: *p = 0.0455, day 6: *p = 0.0182). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. (C) Representative H&E-stained sections of inflamed joints from WT (moderate arthritis) and apoA-I−/− mice (pannus), as well as noninjected knee joint (normal), are shown (original magnification ×200). (D) Histological scores for AIA in WT and apoA-I−/− mice. The histopathologies of injected knee joints were scored as described in 2Materials and Methods; *p = 0.0393 for pannus versus nonpannus. (E) Photos of skin lesions in apoA-I−/− mice 21 d after mBSA immunization. (F) Representative H&E-stained sections of normal and inflamed skin (original magnification ×20 [left panels], ×400 [right panels]). (G) Histological grading of skin inflammation developed in WT and apoA-I−/− mice (*p = 0.0239). In all panels, data are from two independent experiments.

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We examined whether HDL-c levels were affected by the inflammatory response and whether HDL functionality was altered during AIA development. According to our results, total and HDL-c levels of both mBSA-immunized (day 21) and arthritic (day 30 i.a.) mice showed no significant differences as compared with naive WT mice (Fig. 2A). To assess the functional properties of HDL, we measured HDL-associated PON-1 activity at different time points during disease development. Our results indicated that there is a biphasic response of the immunized mice in terms of HDL activity: an early upregulation of HDL functionality (day 10) that could be accounted for by an early attempt to attenuate the inflammation followed by a gradual decline in HDL functionality as the inflammation resolves (days 21 and 30; Fig. 2B). Importantly, our data showed that upon the i.a. antigenic challenge, HDL functionality significantly decreased to even lower levels (day 21 versus day 30 i.a.; Fig. 2B). Although mice are still capable of responding to the i.a. mBSA challenge by increasing PON-1 activity (day 30 versus day 30 i.a.), this potential is markedly compromised compared with day 10 (Fig. 2B). Collectively, our results signify that although the HDL-c levels remained unaffected, the anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties of circulating HDL were attenuated in an inflammatory environment.

FIGURE 2.

HDL functionality is altered during AIA in WT mice. (A) Total (TC) and HDL-c levels in serum of naive mice (day 0), mBSA-immunized mice (day 21), and arthritic mice (day 30 i.a.). (B) Characterization of HDL antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties by assessment of HDL-associated PON-1 activity (**p = 0.0084, ***p ≤ 0.0007). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from two independent experiments; n = 5–16/group.

FIGURE 2.

HDL functionality is altered during AIA in WT mice. (A) Total (TC) and HDL-c levels in serum of naive mice (day 0), mBSA-immunized mice (day 21), and arthritic mice (day 30 i.a.). (B) Characterization of HDL antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties by assessment of HDL-associated PON-1 activity (**p = 0.0084, ***p ≤ 0.0007). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from two independent experiments; n = 5–16/group.

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Development and progression of arthritis depends on the generation of autoreactive Th1 and Th17 cells (36, 37). To monitor the induction of T cell responses in apoA-I−/− mice, we first examined whether T cell lymphopoiesis was affected in these mice. Analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs revealed no differences between naive apoA-I−/− and WT mice, indicating that loss of apoA-I did not cause alterations in T cell development and homeostasis (Fig. 3A). In addition, the frequency of peripheral CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) was similar in apoA-I−/− and WT mice (Fig. 3B). We next assessed whether decreased HDL levels could affect the induction of Ag-specific Th1 and Th17 responses. Interestingly, dLNs of apoA-I−/− mice showed increased cellularity 9 d after the antigenic challenge compared with WT mice (53.5 ± 2.5 versus 42.1 ± 2.0 × 106 cells; Fig. 4A). Detailed analysis of the dLNs for the different cells subsets revealed a significant increase of CD11c+ DCs in apoA-I−/− mice, 3.5 and 9 d after the antigenic challenge, compared with WT mice, and to a lesser extent of CD4+ T cells (Fig. 4B). Notably, no significant differences were observed in the frequencies of B220+ B cells and CD11b+ macrophages, whereas CD8+ T cells were slightly decreased in dLNs of apoA-I−/− mice (Fig. 4B). Moreover, the absolute numbers of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs were significantly increased in immunized apoA-I−/− mice (Fig. 4B). Although both groups of mice exhibited similar frequencies of activated CD3+CD4+CD44+ T cells after in vitro restimulation with OVA (Fig. 4C), dLNCs from apoA-I−/− mice exhibited increased proliferation as indicated by IL-2 levels (181.3 ± 14.1 versus 74.7 ± 7.9; Fig. 4D). This finding was accompanied by markedly increased production of both IL-17 (773.1 ± 105.9 versus 292.5 ± 85.8; Fig. 4E) and IFN-γ (708.9 ± 114.8 versus 172.4 ± 40.0; Fig. 4F) in apoA-I−/− OVA-stimulated dLNC supernatants, whereas IL-10 was undetectable (data not shown). Taken together, these data demonstrate that apoA-I deficiency promotes T cell proliferation and enhances Ag-specific Th1 and Th17 immune responses.

FIGURE 3.

T cell development and homeostasis is not affected in apoA-I−/− mice. (A and B) Flow-cytometric analysis of thymocytes, splenocytes, and lymph node cells from naive WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 3/group) is shown. Gates were set as indicated. Data are representative of two independent experiments.

FIGURE 3.

T cell development and homeostasis is not affected in apoA-I−/− mice. (A and B) Flow-cytometric analysis of thymocytes, splenocytes, and lymph node cells from naive WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 3/group) is shown. Gates were set as indicated. Data are representative of two independent experiments.

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FIGURE 4.

OVA-specific Th1 and Th17 immune responses are modulated by HDL. (A) LN cellularity in WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 12–13/group) 9 d after OVA immunization (**p = 0.0018). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from five independent experiments. (B) dLNCs from WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 4–6/group) were collected 3.5 and 9 d post OVA immunization (p.i.). Gating strategy and frequencies or absolute numbers of CD11c+ DCs, B220+ B cells, CD11b+ macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and Foxp3+ Tregs are shown. Numbers on the gates denote frequencies. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. *p ≤ 0.0469, **p = 0.0096. (C) Flow-cytometric analysis of OVA-primed dLNCs from WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 6/group) after in vitro restimulation with 15 μg/ml OVA for 48 h. Gates were set as indicated. Data are representative of three independent experiments. (DF) Levels of IL-2 (***p < 0.0001), IL-17 (**p = 0.0055), and IFN-γ (***p = 0.0008) in culture supernatants of OVA-primed dLNCs are shown (n = 6–7/group). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from at least four independent experiments. (G) OVA-primed dLNCs from WT mice (n = 3/group) were restimulated with OVA (15 μg/ml) in vitro in the presence of rHDL (1 μM) for 72 h and then pulsed with 1 μCi [3H]thymidine for 18 h. The incorporated radioactivity was measured. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.0367. (HJ) dLNCs from OVA-immunized WT mice (n = 6–8/group) were cultured with increasing concentrations of rHDL in the presence of OVA (15 μg/ml). Levels of IL-2 (***p ≤ 0.0004), IL-17 (**p = 0.001, ***p = 0.0006), and IFN-γ (**p ≤ 0.0081) were determined in culture supernatants 48 h later. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from at least three independent experiments.

FIGURE 4.

OVA-specific Th1 and Th17 immune responses are modulated by HDL. (A) LN cellularity in WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 12–13/group) 9 d after OVA immunization (**p = 0.0018). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from five independent experiments. (B) dLNCs from WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 4–6/group) were collected 3.5 and 9 d post OVA immunization (p.i.). Gating strategy and frequencies or absolute numbers of CD11c+ DCs, B220+ B cells, CD11b+ macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and Foxp3+ Tregs are shown. Numbers on the gates denote frequencies. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. *p ≤ 0.0469, **p = 0.0096. (C) Flow-cytometric analysis of OVA-primed dLNCs from WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 6/group) after in vitro restimulation with 15 μg/ml OVA for 48 h. Gates were set as indicated. Data are representative of three independent experiments. (DF) Levels of IL-2 (***p < 0.0001), IL-17 (**p = 0.0055), and IFN-γ (***p = 0.0008) in culture supernatants of OVA-primed dLNCs are shown (n = 6–7/group). Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from at least four independent experiments. (G) OVA-primed dLNCs from WT mice (n = 3/group) were restimulated with OVA (15 μg/ml) in vitro in the presence of rHDL (1 μM) for 72 h and then pulsed with 1 μCi [3H]thymidine for 18 h. The incorporated radioactivity was measured. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.0367. (HJ) dLNCs from OVA-immunized WT mice (n = 6–8/group) were cultured with increasing concentrations of rHDL in the presence of OVA (15 μg/ml). Levels of IL-2 (***p ≤ 0.0004), IL-17 (**p = 0.001, ***p = 0.0006), and IFN-γ (**p ≤ 0.0081) were determined in culture supernatants 48 h later. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from at least three independent experiments.

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Next, we examined whether HDL could directly affect the induction of Th1 and Th17 immune responses. To address this, we performed in vitro restimulation assays of dLNCs from OVA-immunized WT animals in the presence of titrating amounts of rHDL. Treatment with rHDL led to impaired proliferation of OVA-specific T cells as a response to the antigenic stimulus (Fig. 4G). In support, IL-2 secretion was decreased in culture supernatants of rHDL-treated dLNCs (Fig. 4H). Furthermore, decreased proliferation of dLNCs in the presence of rHDL was accompanied by a dose-dependent decrease in secretion of IL-17 (Fig. 4I) and IFN-γ (Fig. 4J). Overall, these results provide direct evidence for a potent role of rHDL in the suppression of Th1 and Th17 immune responses in vitro.

T cell activation, polarization, and proliferation in vivo require Ag presentation by professional APCs. DCs serve as the best candidate that upon maturation provide the necessary costimulatory molecules and secrete proinflammatory cytokines to instruct T cell responses (20, 38). We asked whether the suppressive effect of rHDL on T cell responses is mediated through modulation of DC function. To this end, we first examined the maturation status of DCs in dLNs and spleen of immunized apoA-I−/− and WT mice. Our findings demonstrated an increase of MHC-II and CD40 expression in CD11c+ DCs from apoA-I−/− compared with WT mice and a more prominent increase in the expression of the costimulatory molecule CD86 in both dLNs and spleen (Fig. 5). In contrast, no differences were observed in the expression levels of CD80 (Fig. 5). To examine a direct role of HDL on DC maturation, we generated BMDCs from WT mice and treated them with rHDL during LPS stimulation. As shown in Fig. 6A, treatment with rHDL led to downregulation of MHC-II, CD40, CD86, and CD80. To determine whether this effect was specific to the TLR4-mediated response in DCs, we stimulated BMDCs from WT mice with zymosan, a TLR2 ligand, and treated them with rHDL. Although expression of MHC-II was not altered, a significant downregulation of CD40, CD86, and CD80 expression was observed in rHDL-treated zymosan-activated BMDCs compared with zymosan alone (Fig. 6B). These results indicate that the suppressive effect of rHDL on DC maturation is not limited to TLR4-induced immune responses. Furthermore, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, chemokine IL-8, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was reduced in rHDL-treated LPS-stimulated BMDCs, whereas TNF-α production was unaffected by rHDL treatment (Fig. 6C). Notably, rHDL suppressed the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in immature DCs, indicating that the anti-inflammatory properties of rHDL could be exerted independent of LPS. Collectively, these data demonstrate an inhibitory effect of rHDL on activation and maturation of and cytokine secretion by DCs in vitro.

FIGURE 5.

The expression of DC maturation markers is increased in immunized apoA-I−/− mice. dLNCs and splenocytes from WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 4–8/group) were collected 3.5 and 9 d post OVA immunization. Expression levels of MHC-II, CD40, CD86, and CD80 were evaluated by flow cytometry. Representative FACS histograms are shown. Gates were set on CD11c+ cells.

FIGURE 5.

The expression of DC maturation markers is increased in immunized apoA-I−/− mice. dLNCs and splenocytes from WT and apoA-I−/− mice (n = 4–8/group) were collected 3.5 and 9 d post OVA immunization. Expression levels of MHC-II, CD40, CD86, and CD80 were evaluated by flow cytometry. Representative FACS histograms are shown. Gates were set on CD11c+ cells.

Close modal
FIGURE 6.

rHDL prevents activation and maturation of BMDCs. BMDCs from WT mice (n = 2–6) were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/ml) or zymosan (20 μg/ml) and treated with 4 μM rHDL for 18 h. (A) Expression levels of MHC-II (*p = 0.026), CD40 (**p = 0.0076), CD86 (*p = 0.0226), and CD80 (**p = 0.0047) were evaluated by flow cytometry. Representative FACS histograms are shown. Gates were set on CD11c+ cells. Dot plots represent the averages of the geometric mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of at least two independent experiments. (B) Expression levels of MHC-II, CD40, CD86, and CD80 were evaluated by flow cytometry. Representative FACS histograms are shown. Gates were set on CD11c+ cells. (C) Levels of IL-6, IL-23, IL-12 p70, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from three independent experiments; *p = 0.0229, **p ≤ 0.0038, ***p ≤ 0.0008. ND, not detectable; ns, not significantly different.

FIGURE 6.

rHDL prevents activation and maturation of BMDCs. BMDCs from WT mice (n = 2–6) were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/ml) or zymosan (20 μg/ml) and treated with 4 μM rHDL for 18 h. (A) Expression levels of MHC-II (*p = 0.026), CD40 (**p = 0.0076), CD86 (*p = 0.0226), and CD80 (**p = 0.0047) were evaluated by flow cytometry. Representative FACS histograms are shown. Gates were set on CD11c+ cells. Dot plots represent the averages of the geometric mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of at least two independent experiments. (B) Expression levels of MHC-II, CD40, CD86, and CD80 were evaluated by flow cytometry. Representative FACS histograms are shown. Gates were set on CD11c+ cells. (C) Levels of IL-6, IL-23, IL-12 p70, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from three independent experiments; *p = 0.0229, **p ≤ 0.0038, ***p ≤ 0.0008. ND, not detectable; ns, not significantly different.

Close modal

To assess the functional importance of our findings, we performed coculture experiments with rHDL-treated OVA-pulsed BMDCs and OVA-primed dLNCs as shown in Fig. 7A. To this end, WT BMDCs were activated with LPS and pulsed with OVA in the presence or absence of rHDL for 12 h. BMDCs were then cocultured with dLNCs isolated from OVA-immunized WT syngeneic mice. Forty-eight hours later, culture supernatants were collected and IL-2 production was assessed. Interestingly, rHDL-treated OVA-pulsed BMDCs significantly reduced IL-2 production by OVA-primed dLNCs as compared with OVA-pulsed BMDCs (Fig. 7B). These findings provide evidence for the impaired capacity of rHDL-treated DCs to promote T cell proliferation.

FIGURE 7.

rHDL-treated DCs suppress Ag-specific T cell proliferation in vitro. (A) Outline of the coculture experimental setup. LPS-stimulated, OVA-pulsed BMDCs from WT mice (n = 5/experiment) were treated with rHDL for 12 h and cocultured with OVA-primed dLNCs. Cells were restimulated with OVA and 48 h later (B) IL-2 secretion in culture supernatants was assessed by ELISA. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from two independent experiments (**p = 0.005).

FIGURE 7.

rHDL-treated DCs suppress Ag-specific T cell proliferation in vitro. (A) Outline of the coculture experimental setup. LPS-stimulated, OVA-pulsed BMDCs from WT mice (n = 5/experiment) were treated with rHDL for 12 h and cocultured with OVA-primed dLNCs. Cells were restimulated with OVA and 48 h later (B) IL-2 secretion in culture supernatants was assessed by ELISA. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from two independent experiments (**p = 0.005).

Close modal

LPS binding to TLR4 leads to NF-κB nuclear translocation and induction of inflammatory cytokine gene transcription (39). To gain insights into the molecular events leading to HDL-mediated suppression of DC function, we examined whether rHDL suppressed LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine secretion by interfering with the NF-κB pathway. To this end, we performed immunofluorescence studies to assess nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB in LPS-stimulated BMDCs. Our findings showed a marked increase in nuclear p65 compared with unstimulated cells, whereas LPS-induced translocation of p65 to the nucleus was impaired after rHDL treatment (Fig. 8A, 8B). In TLR4 signaling, activation of NF-κB is initiated by interactions with either MyD88 or TIR domain–containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF) adaptor protein (39). To determine whether these two pathways were disrupted by rHDL, we assessed mRNA levels in LPS-stimulated BMDCs. We found that rHDL decreased Myd88 mRNA levels in LPS-stimulated BMDCs after 18 h of treatment (Fig. 8C). In contrast, rHDL treatment did not affect Trif expression neither at an early nor at a later time point (Fig. 8D). These data suggest a role for rHDL in modulating inflammatory responses through interference with the MyD88-dependent TLR4 signaling pathway.

FIGURE 8.

rHDL inhibits activation of BMDCs by interfering with the TLR4 pathway. WT BMDCs were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/ml) and treated with 4 μM rHDL for the indicated time periods. (A) Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy for p65 (red) translocation into the nucleus (DAPI stained, blue) in BMDCs stimulated with LPS for 2 h. Maximum projections of image stacks are shown; representative of two independent experiments. (B) Quantification of p65 cell distribution by determining nuclear/cytoplasmic (N:C) ratios of signal intensity at single-cell level. Data are combined of two independent experiments; ***p < 0.0001. (CE) Relative mRNA levels of Myd88 (***p = 0.0004), Trif, and Atf3 (*p = 0.0177, **p = 0.0016) after treatment of WT BMDCs (n = 6–8) with rHDL for 4 and 18 h. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from at least three independent experiments.

FIGURE 8.

rHDL inhibits activation of BMDCs by interfering with the TLR4 pathway. WT BMDCs were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/ml) and treated with 4 μM rHDL for the indicated time periods. (A) Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy for p65 (red) translocation into the nucleus (DAPI stained, blue) in BMDCs stimulated with LPS for 2 h. Maximum projections of image stacks are shown; representative of two independent experiments. (B) Quantification of p65 cell distribution by determining nuclear/cytoplasmic (N:C) ratios of signal intensity at single-cell level. Data are combined of two independent experiments; ***p < 0.0001. (CE) Relative mRNA levels of Myd88 (***p = 0.0004), Trif, and Atf3 (*p = 0.0177, **p = 0.0016) after treatment of WT BMDCs (n = 6–8) with rHDL for 4 and 18 h. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from at least three independent experiments.

Close modal

Recently, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a transcriptional regulator that provides negative feedback on TLR-induced inflammation, was identified as a critical mediator of HDL’s anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages (40). Thus, we assessed Atf3 mRNA levels in rHDL-treated BMDCs. Indeed, after 4 h of treatment with rHDL, LPS-stimulated BMDCs demonstrated increased expression of Atf3 compared with nontreated cells, whereas expression was decreased at 18 h (Fig. 8E). This finding suggests that an HDL-inducible, ATF3-dependent mechanism may operate in DCs, acting as a restrainer of the TLR-stimulated response by preventing excessive proinflammatory cytokine production.

It is well established that HDL exerts its pleiotropic functions through interactions with SR-BI, ABCA1, and ABCG1 transporters (7, 9). To investigate the contribution of each transporter in rHDL’s anti-inflammatory effects on DCs, we assessed cytokine secretion in LPS-stimulated ABCG1−/−, ABCA1−/−, and SR-BI−/− BMDCs in the presence or absence of rHDL. Deficiency in any of these transporters in BMDCs did not affect their ability to efficiently secrete proinflammatory cytokines upon LPS stimulation (data not shown). Interestingly, rHDL suppressed the levels of IL-12, IL-8, or IL-23 in ABCG1−/− BMDCs as efficiently as in BMDCs from WT mice and to an even greater extent the secretion of IL-6, indicating that this transporter is not involved in the inhibitory effect of rHDL on DC activation (Fig. 9A). In contrast, rHDL was unable to efficiently impair proinflammatory cytokine secretion in ABCA1−/− and SR-BI−/− BMDCs, suggesting that rHDL-mediated modulation of DC function is ABCA1 and SR-BI dependent (Fig. 9A). Notably, the decrease in IL-10 levels that was observed upon rHDL treatment of LPS-stimulated WT BMDCs (34.5 ± 1.6%) was retained independent of ABCG1, ABCA1, or SR-BI deficiency (ABCG1−/−: 30.5 ± 1.2%; ABCA1−/−: 38.0 ± 1.4%; SR-BI−/−: 35.9 ± 2.6%; Fig. 9A). This result suggests either that the ABCG1 transporter does not contribute to rHDL’s inhibitory actions or that in the case of IL-10 there is a redundancy in the functions of the three transporters.

FIGURE 9.

The suppressive effect of rHDL on BMDCs activation is dependent on ABCA1 and SR-BI. BMDCs from WT, ABCG1−/−, ABCA1−/−, and SR-BI−/− mice (n = 4–6/group) were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/ml) and treated with 4 μM rHDL for 12 h. (A) Levels of IL-6, IL-12 p70, TNF-α, IL-23, IL-8, and IL-10 in culture supernatants of stimulated BMDCs. Percentages of cytokine secretion are shown for LPS-stimulated BMDCs after treatment with rHDL, normalized against untreated LPS-stimulated BMDCs of the same genotype. (B) Representative Western blot images of pSTAT3, total STAT3, and actin are shown for each genotype. (C) Levels of pSTAT3 and actin were quantified by densitometry and the pSTAT3/actin ratio was calculated. (A and C) Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from at least two independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. ns, not significantly different.

FIGURE 9.

The suppressive effect of rHDL on BMDCs activation is dependent on ABCA1 and SR-BI. BMDCs from WT, ABCG1−/−, ABCA1−/−, and SR-BI−/− mice (n = 4–6/group) were stimulated with LPS (0.5 μg/ml) and treated with 4 μM rHDL for 12 h. (A) Levels of IL-6, IL-12 p70, TNF-α, IL-23, IL-8, and IL-10 in culture supernatants of stimulated BMDCs. Percentages of cytokine secretion are shown for LPS-stimulated BMDCs after treatment with rHDL, normalized against untreated LPS-stimulated BMDCs of the same genotype. (B) Representative Western blot images of pSTAT3, total STAT3, and actin are shown for each genotype. (C) Levels of pSTAT3 and actin were quantified by densitometry and the pSTAT3/actin ratio was calculated. (A and C) Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; data are combined from at least two independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. ns, not significantly different.

Close modal

Further support of these findings was obtained upon assessment of the effects of rHDL on signaling events downstream of the NF-κB pathway in BMDCs from WT mice or mice deficient for any of the above transporters. Upon LPS stimulation, STAT3 signaling, as indicated by increased STAT3 phosphorylation, was efficiently induced in BMDCs from all groups as compared with nonstimulated cells (WT: 6.0 ± 0.8-fold; ABCG1−/−: 4.3 ± 0.5-fold; ABCA1−/−: 4.2 ± 0.5-fold; SR-BI−/−: 3.9 ± 0.5-fold; Fig. 9B, 9C), and treatment with rHDL was able to diminish STAT3 activation in WT (4.5 ± 0.7-fold; *p = 0.0283) and ABCG1−/− BMDCs (2.5 ± 0.2-fold; *p = 0.0127). However, rHDL-treated ABCA1−/− and SR-BI−/− BMDCs demonstrated similar levels of LPS-induced STAT3 phosphorylation (ABCA1−/−: 3.9 ± 0.7-fold; SR-BI−/−: 4.2 ± 0.7-fold; Fig. 9B, 9C) as compared with cells treated with LPS alone. Overall, our data provide evidence for an important role of ABCA1 and SR-BI, but not ABCG1, in the HDL-mediated anti-inflammatory function on DCs.

Although numerous studies have reported the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL, the mechanisms involved in HDL-mediated suppression of autoimmune inflammatory responses are not well understood. Our results demonstrate that HDL suppresses the activation, maturation of, and cytokine secretion by DCs resulting in the establishment of a “semimature phenotype” of these cells. To this end, treatment of BMDCs with rHDL resulted in reduced expression of MHC-II and costimulatory molecules that are required for efficient Ag presentation and activation of T lymphocytes. This is in line with previous reports revealing a role of HDL and apoA-I on human DC differentiation and function (41, 42). Ag loading to MHC-II is mediated either through the classical or via the autophagy pathway (43, 44). Recent data suggest that HDL inhibits autophagy induced by oxidized low-density lipoproteins in endothelial cells (45). Whether HDL could suppress the induction of autophagy in DCs and delivery of Ags to MHC loading compartments remains to be shown.

The functional importance of the anti-inflammatory effects of HDL on DCs is demonstrated by the decreased ability of rHDL-treated BMDCs to promote T cell proliferation in vitro. DCs with a “semimature phenotype” have the ability to downregulate immune responses and to ameliorate autoimmunity upon adoptive transfer in vivo (46, 47). In particular, it was shown that TNF-α–treated DCs are tolerogenic and suppress experimental autoimmune thyroiditis through induction of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in vivo and in vitro (47). Because Tregs play a prominent role in the re-establishment but also maintenance of self-tolerance, it remains to be examined whether rHDL-treated BMDCs possess the ability to induce and/or expand Tregs in vivo. Interestingly, absolute numbers of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs in the dLNs of immunized apoA-I−/− were increased compared with WT mice. However, the suppressive potential of Foxp3+ Tregs in an inflammatory environment is currently under debate (48, 49).

According to our data, absence of apoA-I in mice resulted in exacerbated inflammation in the knee joints during AIA and caused extensive inflammatory reactions in the skin. These findings are in line with previous studies demonstrating that lack of apoA-I in low-density lipoprotein receptor–deficient mice fed with high-fat diet was associated with skin lesion development due to enlarged skin dLNs that contained expanded populations of cholesterol-enriched lymphocytes including T cells, B cells, and DCs (50). Moreover, when fed an atherogenic diet, these double-knockout mice exhibited increased T cell activation, proliferation, and production of autoantibodies in the plasma. Importantly, this autoimmune phenotype was restored after treatment of mice with either lipid-free apoA-I or adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of apoA-I (50, 51).

The capacity of HDL to bind LPS and neutralize its inflammatory activity has been demonstrated in multiple in vitro and in vivo studies (52, 53). Although this possibility cannot be excluded, the data presented in this study using BMDCs from ABCA1-, ABCG1-, or SR-BI–deficient mice do not support such a mechanism of action for rHDL. In our experiments, rHDL did not efficiently suppress LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-12, or IL-23 in mice lacking ABCA1 or SR-BI, indicating that a specific interaction between rHDL and these transporters, rather than sequestration of LPS by rHDL, is responsible for its anti-inflammatory functions on BMDCs.

LPS stimulation of DCs activates NF-κB, via either the MyD88- or the TRIF-dependent pathway, which is then recruited to the nucleus to induce inflammatory cytokine gene transcription (39). Our data demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory effects of rHDL on LPS-stimulated BMDCs are mediated through interference with the MyD88/NF-κB pathway. Although the inhibitory actions of apoA-I and HDL on TLR signaling have been previously reported (19, 54), a mechanism by which HDL selectively impedes the MyD88-dependent signaling in DCs has not yet been established. Based on our findings, we speculate that interaction of apoA-I on HDL with cell-surface lipid transporters such as ABCA1 or SR-BI leads to changes in downstream signaling events that, in turn, compromise NF-κB activation and transcriptional upregulation of Myd88 by LPS. This could be mediated via two alternative, but not necessarily mutually exclusive pathways. One mechanism could involve depletion of lipid rafts from plasma membranes as a result of cholesterol efflux initiated by apoA-I/ABCA1 or apoA-I/SR-BI interactions. Lipid rafts are dynamic structures that have been critically implicated in a variety of cellular processes including signal transduction, endocytosis, vesicular transport, and immunoregulation (55). Treatment of APCs with either HDL or apoA-I has been associated with cholesterol depletion and lipid raft disruption leading to suppressed T cell activation and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine secretion (56, 57). The second mechanism could involve activation of ABCA1- or SR-BI–induced signaling that results in inhibition of the TLR-induced response. According to previous studies, interaction of HDL or apoA-I with SR-BI present on endothelial cells activates downstream signaling cascades stimulating a variety of protective cellular responses (58). In addition, apoA-I binding to ABCA1 activates the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in macrophages leading to suppression of LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine production through the action of the mRNA-destabilizing protein, tristetraprolin (59). To date, no signaling events have been reported as a result of interactions between apoA-I or HDL and ABCG1, a transporter known to greatly contribute to the cholesterol efflux process in macrophages. Notably, in our study, the inhibitory properties of rHDL on BMDCs were found to be independent of ABCG1. These data argue against the hypothesis that the anti-inflammatory effects of rHDL on BMDCs are due to cholesterol depletion leading to lipid raft remodeling and favor a model that implicates transporter-specific downstream signaling events.

In a recent study, ATF3, a transcriptional repressor of TLR-stimulated inflammation, was identified as an HDL-inducible target gene that mediated HDL’s anti-inflammatory actions in macrophages (40). It was shown that the protective effects of HDL on TLR responses were fully dependent on ATF3 in vitro and in vivo. We show in this study that treatment of LPS-stimulated BMDCs with rHDL caused an upregulation in Atf3 expression. These data support the notion that an ATF3-dependent mechanism may also be activated by HDL in DCs to constrain the inflammatory response.

In summary, our findings provide evidence for a novel role of HDL in shaping the autoimmune responses both in vivo and in vitro. HDL suppresses adaptive T cell responses by modulating the proinflammatory function of DCs, in an ABCA1- and SR-BI–dependent fashion. The results presented in this article shed light on the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL that could aid the development of new therapeutic approaches for autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases.

We thank members of the Kardassis and Verginis laboratories for discussions and technical assistance, Prof. Joanna Moschandreas for assistance with biostatistical analyses (University of Crete Medical School), Dr. Joanna Charlton for flow cytometry Abs (Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology), Dr. Panagiotis Fotakis (University of Crete Medical School), Christina Gkolfinopoulou and Dr. Angeliki Chroni (both at Demokritos National Center for Scientific Research) for production and purification of human apoA-I and for protocols, and Ronald van der Sluis and Mara Kröner (Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research) for preparing bone samples from ABCA1−/−, ABCG1−/−, and SR-BI−/− mice.

This work was supported by the Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology (SYNERGASIA Grant 09SYN-12-897 and ARISTEIA II Grant 4220 to D.K.), the European Union project Innovative Medicine Initiative 6 (“Be The Cure,” Contract 115142-2 to P.V. and D.B.), the National Institutes of Health (Grant HL48739 to V.I.Z.), and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (VICI Grant 91813603 to M.V.E.). M.V.E. is an Established Investigator of the Netherlands Heart Foundation (Grant 2007T056).

Abbreviations used in this article:

ABC

ATP binding cassette transporter

AIA

Ag-induced arthritis

apoA-I

apolipoprotein A-I

ATF3

activating transcription factor 3

BMDC

bone marrow–derived DC

Ct

cycle threshold

DC

dendritic cell

dLN

draining lymph node

dLNC

dLN cell

HDL

high-density lipoprotein

HDL-c

HDL-cholesterol

i.a.

intra-articularly

mBSA

methylated BSA

MHC-II

MHC class II

PON-1

paraoxonase 1

RA

rheumatoid arthritis

rHDL

reconstituted HDL

SR-BI

scavenger receptor class B type I

Treg

regulatory T cell

TRIF

TIR domain–containing adapter-inducing IFN-β

WT

wild-type.

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The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.