Functional Imbalance between Th17, Th1, and Treg Cells in A. actinomyctemcomitans -Accelerated Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Recent studies have shown an association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. We previously reported that Aggregatibacter actinomyctemcomitans（Aa） bacteremia accelerated atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient spontaneously hyperlipidemic（Apoe shl ）mice. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease regulated by T lymphocyte subsets. In this study, we investigated whether the functional imbalance between Th17, Th1, and regulatory T（Treg）cells, existed in Aa-challenged