Natural Killer Cells and CD4 ⁺ T-Cells Modulate Collateral Artery Development

Objective— The immune system is thought to play a crucial role in regulating collateral circulation (arteriogenesis), a vital compensatory mechanism in patients with arterial obstructive disease. Here, we studied the role of lymphocytes in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia.

Methods and Results— Lymphocytes, detected with markers for NK1.1, CD3, and CD4, invaded the collateral vessel wall. Arteriogenesis was impaired in C57BL/6 mice depleted for Natural Killer (NK)-cells by anti-NK1.1 antibodies and in NK-cell–deficient transgenic mice. Arteriogenesis was, however, unaffected in Jα281-knockout mice that lack NK1.1 ⁺ Natural Killer T (NKT)-cells, indicating that NK-cells, rather than NKT-cells, are involved in arteriogenesis. Furthermore, arteriogenesis was impaired in C57BL/6 mice depleted for CD4 ⁺ T-lymphocytes by anti-CD4 antibodies, and in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-class-II–deficient mice that more selectively lack mature peripheral CD4 ⁺ T-lymphocytes. This impairment was even more profound in anti-NK1.1-treated MHC-class-II–deficient mice that lack both NK- and CD4 ⁺ T-lymphocytes. Finally, collateral growth was severely reduced in BALB/c as compared with C57BL/6 mice, 2 strains with different bias in immune responsiveness.

Conclusions— These data show that both NK-cells and CD4 ⁺ T-cells modulate arteriogenesis. Promoting lymphocyte activation may represent a promising method to treat ischemic disease.