Alterations of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 gene were associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction in human and limited atherosclerosis in mice. In this study, we addressed whether CX3CR1 antagonists are potential therapeutic tools to limit acute and chronic inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis.

Treatment with F1, an amino terminus–modified CX3CR1 ligand endowed with CX3CR1 antagonist activity, reduced the extent of atherosclerotic lesions in both Apoe^−/− and Ldlr^−/− proatherogenic mouse models. Macrophage accumulation in the aortic sinus was reduced in F1-treated Apoe^−/− mice but the macrophage density of the lesions was similar in F1-treated and control mice. Both in vitro and in vivo F1 treatment reduced CX3CR1-dependent inflammatory monocyte adhesion, potentially limiting their recruitment. In addition, F1-treated Apoe^−/− mice displayed reduced numbers of blood inflammatory monocytes, whereas resident monocyte numbers remained unchanged. Both in vitro and in vivo F1 treatment reduced CX3CR1-dependent inflammatory monocyte survival. Finally, F1 treatment of Apoe^−/− mice with advanced atherosclerosis led to smaller lesions than untreated mice but without reverting to the initial phenotype.

The CX3CR1 antagonist F1 is a potent inhibitor of the progression of atherosclerotic lesions by means of its selective impact on inflammatory monocyte functions. Controlling monocyte trafficking and survival may be an alternative or complementary therapy to lipid-lowering drugs classically used in the treatment of atherosclerosis.