Cited research: J. Exp. Med. doi:10.1084/jem.20100155 (2010)

Heart disease has a plethora of contributory factors, with inflammation and other immune reactions among the key mediators. Studies in mice reveal that, contrary to previous results, the mature form of an immune cell known as a B cell promotes atherosclerosis — the build-up of fatty plaques on arterial inner walls.

Ziad Mallat at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research in Paris and his colleagues depleted B cells in three mouse models of atherosclerosis. They found reduced plaque development compared with untreated mice, even though blood cholesterol levels were similar. B-cell depletion led to decreased activation of T cells, which are known to enhance plaque formation, and a shift towards greater production of an immune modulator that protects against atherosclerosis. C.L.