A new murine model for atherosclerosis with inflammation in the periodontal tissue induced by immunization with heat shock protein 60

It has recently become apparent that the anti-heat shock protein (HSP) anti body plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We stu died whether immunization with human HSP60 could lead to atherosclerosis in mice. We attempted to induce atherosclerosis in C57BL/6NJcl mice by immuni zation with human HSP60 under a high-cholesterol diet. The size of fatty st reak lesions was significantly enhanced in mice immunized with human HSP60 under a high-cholesterol diet relative to the number in control mice receiv ing a high-cholesterol diet alone, In addition, these new atherosclerotic m odel mice showed lesions of inflammation in the periodontal tissue. This ne w model may thus provide theoretical support for the clinical observation t hat patients suffering from periodontitis are frequently found to have athe rosclerosis. The cytokine ratio of interferon-gamma/interleukin-4 in the hi gh cholesterol diet group was significantly higher than that in the standar d chow group (p<0.05). This suggests the presence of a predominantly Th1-ty pe immune response in atherosclerosis.