Regulatory B Cell-Specific Interleukin-10 Is Dispensable for Atherosclerosis Development in Mice

Objective To determine the role of regulatory B cell-derived interleukin (IL)-10 in atherosclerosis. Approach and Results We created chimeric Ldlr(-/-) mice with a B cell-specific deficiency in IL-10, and confirmed that purified B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide failed to produce IL-10 compared with control Ldlr(-/-) chimeras. Mice lacking B-cell IL-10 demonstrated enhanced splenic B-cell numbers but no major differences in B-cell subsets, T cell or monocyte distribution, and unchanged body weights or serum cholesterol levels compared with control mice. After 8 weeks on high-fat diet, there were no differences in aortic root or aortic arch atherosclerosis. In addition to plaque size, plaque composition (macrophages, T cells, smooth muscle cells, and collagen) was similar between groups. Conclusions In contrast to its prominent regulatory role in many immune-mediated diseases and its proposed modulatory role in atherosclerosis, B cell-derived IL-10 does not alter atherosclerosis in mice.