Atherosclerosis Regression and Cholesterol Efflux in Hypertriglyceridemic Mice.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Josefs T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7979499 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Atherosclerosis Regression and Cholesterol Efflux in Hypertriglyceridemic Mice.
Josefs Tatjana T Basu Debapriya D Vaisar Tomas T Arets Britt B Kanter Jenny E JE Huggins Lesley-Ann LA Hu Yunying Y Liu Jianhua J Clouet-Foraison Noemie N Heinecke Jay W JW Bornfeldt Karin E KE Goldberg Ira J IJ Fisher Edward A EA
Circulation research 20210203 6
[Figure: see text]. ...[more]
Similar Datasets
Project description:Plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) inversely correlate with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The causal relationship between plasma HDL-cholesterol levels and CVD has been called into question by Mendelian randomization studies and the majority of clinical trials not showing any benefit of plasma HDL-cholesterol raising drugs on CVD. Nonetheless, recent Mendelian randomization studies including an increased number of CVD cases compared to earlier studies have confirmed that HDL-cholesterol levels and CVD are causally linked. Moreover, several studies in large population cohorts have shown that the cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL inversely correlates with CVD. Cholesterol efflux pathways exert anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects by suppressing proliferation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and inflammation and inflammasome activation in macrophages. Cholesterol efflux pathways also suppress the accumulation of cholesteryl esters in macrophages, i.e. macrophage foam cell formation. Recent single-cell RNASeq studies on atherosclerotic plaques have suggested that macrophage foam cells have lower expression of inflammatory genes than non-foam cells, probably reflecting liver X receptor activation, upregulation of ATP Binding Cassette A1 and G1 cholesterol transporters and suppression of inflammation. However, when these pathways are defective lesional foam cells may become pro-inflammatory.
| S-EPMC9007272 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is one of the most abundant polyphenols in the human diet and is suggested to be a potential antiatherosclerotic agent due to its proposed hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CGA on atherosclerosis development in ApoE(-/-) mice and its potential mechanism. ApoE(-/-) mice were fed a cholesterol-rich diet without (control) or with CGA (200 and 400 mg/kg) or atorvastatin (4 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. During the study plasma lipid and inflammatory parameters were determined. Treatment with CGA (400 mg/kg) reduced atherosclerotic lesion area and vascular dilatation in the aortic root, comparable to atorvastatin. CGA (400 mg/kg) also significantly decreased plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol as well as inflammatory markers. Supplementation with CGA or CGA metabolites-containing serum suppressed oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced lipid accumulation and stimulated cholesterol efflux from RAW264.7 cells. CGA significantly increased the mRNA levels of PPARγ, LXRα, ABCA1 and ABCG1 as well as the transcriptional activity of PPARγ. Cholesterol efflux assay showed that three major metabolites, caffeic, ferulic and gallic acids, significantly stimulated cholesterol efflux from RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that CGA potently reduces atherosclerosis development in ApoE(-/-) mice and promotes cholesterol efflux from RAW264.7 macrophages. Caffeic, ferulic and gallic acids may be the potential active compounds accounting for the in vivo effect of CGA.
| S-EPMC4154672 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by hypercholesterolemia. During aging, T cells accumulate cholesterol, potentially affecting inflammation. However, the effect of cholesterol efflux pathways mediated by ATP-binding cassette A1 and G1 (ABCA1/ABCG1) on T cell-dependent age-related inflammation and atherosclerosis remains poorly understood. In this study, we generate mice with T cell-specific Abca1/Abcg1-deficiency on the low-density-lipoprotein-receptor deficient (Ldlr-/-) background. T cell Abca1/Abcg1-deficiency decreases blood, lymph node, and splenic T cells, and increases T cell activation and apoptosis. T cell Abca1/Abcg1-deficiency induces a premature T cell aging phenotype in middle-aged (12-13 months) Ldlr-/- mice, reflected by upregulation of senescence markers. Despite T cell senescence and enhanced T cell activation, T cell Abca1/Abcg1-deficiency decreases atherosclerosis and aortic inflammation in middle-aged Ldlr-/- mice, accompanied by decreased T cells in atherosclerotic plaques. We attribute these effects to T cell apoptosis downstream of T cell activation, compromising T cell functionality. Collectively, we show that T cell cholesterol efflux pathways suppress T cell apoptosis and senescence, and induce atherosclerosis in middle-aged Ldlr-/- mice.
| S-EPMC9249754 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Plasma HDL levels have a protective role in atherosclerosis, yet clinical therapies to raise HDL levels have remained elusive. Recent advances in the understanding of lipid metabolism have revealed that miR-33, an intronic microRNA located within the SREBF2 gene, suppresses expression of the cholesterol transporter ABC transporter A1 (ABCA1) and lowers HDL levels. Conversely, mechanisms that inhibit miR-33 increase ABCA1 and circulating HDL levels, suggesting that antagonism of miR-33 may be atheroprotective. As the regression of atherosclerosis is clinically desirable, we assessed the impact of miR-33 inhibition in mice deficient for the LDL receptor (Ldlr-/- mice), with established atherosclerotic plaques. Mice treated with anti-miR33 for 4 weeks showed an increase in circulating HDL levels and enhanced reverse cholesterol transport to the plasma, liver, and feces. Consistent with this, anti-miR33-treated mice showed reductions in plaque size and lipid content, increased markers of plaque stability, and decreased inflammatory gene expression. Notably, in addition to raising ABCA1 levels in the liver, anti-miR33 oligonucleotides directly targeted the plaque macrophages, in which they enhanced ABCA1 expression and cholesterol removal. These studies establish that raising HDL levels by anti-miR33 oligonucleotide treatment promotes reverse cholesterol transport and atherosclerosis regression and suggest that it may be a promising strategy to treat atherosclerotic vascular disease.
| S-EPMC3223840 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL) may provide cardiovascular protection by promoting reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages. We hypothesized that the capacity of HDL to accept cholesterol from macrophages would serve as a predictor of atherosclerotic burden.MethodsWe measured cholesterol efflux capacity in 203 healthy volunteers who underwent assessment of carotid artery intima-media thickness, 442 patients with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease, and 351 patients without such angiographically confirmed disease. We quantified efflux capacity by using a validated ex vivo system that involved incubation of macrophages with apolipoprotein B-depleted serum from the study participants.ResultsThe levels of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I were significant determinants of cholesterol efflux capacity but accounted for less than 40% of the observed variation. An inverse relationship was noted between efflux capacity and carotid intima-media thickness both before and after adjustment for the HDL cholesterol level. Furthermore, efflux capacity was a strong inverse predictor of coronary disease status (adjusted odds ratio for coronary disease per 1-SD increase in efflux capacity, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.83; P<0.001). This relationship was attenuated, but remained significant, after additional adjustment for the HDL cholesterol level (odds ratio per 1-SD increase, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.90; P=0.002) or apolipoprotein A-I level (odds ratio per 1-SD increase, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.89; P=0.002). Additional studies showed enhanced efflux capacity in patients with the metabolic syndrome and low HDL cholesterol levels who were treated with pioglitazone, but not in patients with hypercholesterolemia who were treated with statins.ConclusionsCholesterol efflux capacity from macrophages, a metric of HDL function, has a strong inverse association with both carotid intima-media thickness and the likelihood of angiographic coronary artery disease, independently of the HDL cholesterol level. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and others.).
| S-EPMC3030449 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Adipose tissue is the body largest free cholesterol reservoir and abundantly expresses ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), which maintains plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. HDLs have a protective role in atherosclerosis by mediating reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a cytosolic enzyme whose inhibition has various beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. The sEH is highly expressed in adipocytes, and it converts epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) into less bioactive dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids. We previously showed that increasing EETs levels with a sEH inhibitor (sEHI) (t-AUCB) resulted in elevated ABCA1 expression and promoted ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The present study investigates the impacts of t-AUCB in mice deficient for the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (Ldlr(-/-) mice) with established atherosclerotic plaques. The sEH inhibitor delivered in vivo for 4 weeks decreased the activity of sEH in adipose tissue, enhanced ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux from adipose depots, and consequently increased HDL levels. Furthermore, t-AUCB enhanced RCT to the plasma, liver, bile and feces. It also showed the reduction of plasma LDL-C levels. Consistently, t-AUCB-treated mice showed reductions in the size of atherosclerotic plaques. These studies establish that raising adipose ABCA1 expression, cholesterol efflux, and plasma HDL levels with t-AUCB treatment promotes RCT, decreasing LDL-C and atherosclerosis regression, suggesting that sEH inhibition may be a promising strategy to treat atherosclerotic vascular disease.
| S-EPMC4527317 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are integral regulators of protein stability. Among these, Ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for heart failure. However, its precise role in atherosclerosis remains to be comprehensively understood. This study endeavours to examine the impact of USP18 on atherosclerosis and elucidate its corresponding molecular mechanisms. Our studies indicate an elevated expression of USP18 in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques. Notably, the knockdown of USP18 significantly exacerbated lipid accumulation in macrophages. This knockdown effect impaired cholesterol efflux and influenced the downregulation of ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) expression, achieved by altering the ubiquitination level of ABCG1. Comprehensive mechanistic studies unveiled that USP18 directly affiliates with ABCG1, reducing its ubiquitination and consequently bolstering ABCG1 stability within macrophages. Furthermore, in vivo studies elucidated that the knockdown of USP18 notably elevated atherosclerotic lesions and diminished ABCG1 levels in the plaques of Apoe-/- mice. In summary, our results suggested that USP18 plays a crucial role in managing the progression of atherosclerosis by strengthening the expression of ABCG1 protein through its deubiquitinating effect on ABCG1.
| S-EPMC11728483 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which macrophages play a major role. Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is a pivotal molecule in inflammatory and metabolic signaling, and Jak2V617F activating mutation has recently been implicated with enhancing clonal hematopoiesis and atherosclerosis. To determine the essential in vivo role of macrophage (M)-Jak2 in atherosclerosis, we generate atherosclerosis-prone ApoE-null mice deficient in M-Jak2. Contrary to our expectation, these mice exhibit increased plaque burden with no differences in macrophage proliferation, recruitment or bone marrow clonal expansion. Notably, M-Jak2-deficient bone marrow derived macrophages show a significant defect in cholesterol efflux. Pharmacologic JAK2 inhibition with ruxolitinib also leads to defects in cholesterol efflux and accelerates atherosclerosis. Liver X receptor agonist abolishes the efflux defect and attenuates the accelerated atherosclerosis that occurs with M-Jak2 deficiency. Macrophages of individuals with the Jak2V617F mutation show increased efflux which is normalized when treated with a JAK2 inhibitor. Together, M-Jak2-deficiency leads to accelerated atherosclerosis primarily through defects in cholesterol efflux from macrophages.
| S-EPMC8847578 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ABCA1 plays a key role in the initial lipidation of apoA-I, which generates circulating HDL cholesterol. Whereas it is known that the transcriptional upregulation of ABCA1 promotes HDL formation and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), it is not known how the inhibition of ABCA1 protein degradation impacts HDL function. Employing the small molecule triacetyl-3-hydroxyphenyladenosine (IMM-H007), we determined how the attenuation of ABCA1 protein degradation affects HDL cholesterol efflux capacity, RCT, and atherosclerotic lesion formation. Pulse-chase analysis revealed that IMM-H007 inhibits ABCA1 degradation and facilitates its cell-surface localization in macrophages, and additional studies in macrophages showed that IMM-H007 thereby promotes cholesterol efflux. IMM-H007 treatment of Paigen diet-fed mice caused an increase in circulating HDL level, it increased the cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL, and it enhanced in vivo RCT from macrophages to the plasma, liver, and feces. Furthermore, ABCA1 degradation suppression by IMM-H007 reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation in apoE(-/-) mice. Thus, via effects on both ABCA1-expressing cells and circulating HDL function, the inhibition of ABCA1 protein degradation by IMM-H007 promotes HDL cholesterol efflux capacity and RCT and attenuates atherogenesis. IMM-H007 potentially represents a lead compound for the development of agents to augment HDL function.
| S-EPMC4409288 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Macrophages play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we show that microRNA-34a (miR-34a) is a key regulator of macrophage cholesterol efflux and reverse cholesterol transport by modulating ATP-binding cassette transporters ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1). miR-34a also regulates M1 and M2 macrophage polarization via liver X receptor α. Furthermore, global loss of miR-34a reduces intestinal cholesterol or fat absorption by inhibiting cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP7A1 and sterol 12α-hydroxylase (CYP8B1). Consistent with these findings, macrophage-selective or global ablation of miR-34a markedly inhibits the development of atherosclerosis. Finally, therapeutic inhibition of miR-34a promotes atherosclerosis regression and reverses diet-induced metabolic disorders. Our studies outline a central role of miR-34a in regulating macrophage cholesterol efflux, inflammation, and atherosclerosis, suggesting that miR-34a is a promising target for treatment of cardiometabolic diseases.
| S-EPMC6952168 | biostudies-literature