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Rasheed A, Shawky SA, Tsai R, Jung RG, Simard T, Saikali MF, Hibbert B, Rayner KJ, Cummins CL. The secretome of liver X receptor agonist-treated early outgrowth cells decreases atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice. Stem Cells Transl Med 2020; 10:479-491. [PMID: 33231376 PMCID: PMC7900590 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.19-0390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) promote the maintenance of the endothelium by secreting vasoreparative factors. A population of EPCs known as early outgrowth cells (EOCs) is being investigated as novel cell‐based therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. We previously demonstrated that the absence of liver X receptors (LXRs) is detrimental to the formation and function of EOCs under hypercholesterolemic conditions. Here, we investigate whether LXR activation in EOCs is beneficial for the treatment of atherosclerosis. EOCs were differentiated from the bone marrow of wild‐type (WT) and LXR‐knockout (Lxrαβ−/−) mice in the presence of vehicle or LXR agonist (GW3965). WT EOCs treated with GW3965 throughout differentiation showed reduced mRNA expression of endothelial lineage markers (Cd144, Vegfr2) compared with WT vehicle and Lxrαβ−/− EOCs. GW3965‐treated EOCs produced secreted factors that reduced monocyte adhesion to activated endothelial cells in culture. When injected into atherosclerosis‐prone Ldlr−/− mice, GW3965‐treated EOCs, or their corresponding conditioned media (CM) were both able to reduce aortic sinus plaque burden compared with controls. Furthermore, when human EOCs (obtained from patients with established CAD) were treated with GW3965 and the CM applied to endothelial cells, monocyte adhesion was decreased, indicating that our results in mice could be translated to patients. Ex vivo LXR agonist treatment of EOCs therefore produces a secretome that decreases early atherosclerosis in Ldlr−/− mice, and additionally, CM from human EOCs significantly inhibits monocyte to endothelial adhesion. Thus, active factor(s) within the GW3965‐treated EOC secretome may have the potential to be useful for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil Rasheed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah A Shawky
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ricky Tsai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard G Jung
- Capital Research Group, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Trevor Simard
- Capital Research Group, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael F Saikali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin Hibbert
- Capital Research Group, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katey J Rayner
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carolyn L Cummins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,The Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Gong P, Zhang Z, Zhang D, Zou Z, Zhang Q, Ma H, Li J, Liao L, Dong J. Effects of endothelial progenitor cells transplantation on hyperlipidemia associated kidney damage in ApoE knockout mouse model. Lipids Health Dis 2020; 19:53. [PMID: 32209093 PMCID: PMC7093994 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-020-01239-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hyperlipidaemia causes kidney damage over the long term. We investigated the effect of the administration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) on the progression of kidney damage in a mouse model of hyperlipidaemia. Methods Apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE−/−) mice were treated with a high-cholesterol diet after spleen resection. Twenty-four weeks later, the mice were divided into two groups and intravenously injected with PBS or EPCs. Six weeks later, the recruitment of EPCs to the kidney was monitored by immunofluorescence. The lipid, endothelial cell, and collagen contents in the kidney were evaluated by specific immunostaining. The protein expression levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Smad2/3, and phospho-Smad3 (p-smad3) were detected by western blot analysis. Results ApoE−/− mice treated with a high-fat diet demonstrated glomerular lipid deposition, enlargement of the glomerular mesangial matrix, endothelial cell enlargement accompanied by vacuolar degeneration and an area of interstitial collagen in the kidney. Six weeks after EPC treatment, only a few EPCs were detected in the kidney tissues of ApoE−/− mice, mainly in the kidney interstitial area. No significant differences in TGF-β, p-smad3 or smad2/3 expression were found between the PBS group and the EPC treatment group (TGF-β expression, PBS group: 1.06 ± 0.09, EPC treatment group: 1.09 ± 0.17, P = 0.787; p-smad3/smad2/3 expression: PBS group: 1.11 ± 0.41, EPC treatment group: 1.05 ± 0.33, P = 0.861). Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that hyperlipidaemia causes basement membrane thickening, glomerulosclerosis and the vascular degeneration of endothelial cells. The long-term administration of EPCs substantially has limited effect in the progression of kidney damage in a mouse model of hyperlipidaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyun Gong
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Zhongwen Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250014, China.,Department of Endocrinology and Metabology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Ninth Hospital of Xi'an, Xi'an, 710054, China
| | - Zhiwei Zou
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Huimei Ma
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
| | - Jingxiu Li
- Quality control office, People's Hospital of Gaoqing, Zibo, 256300, China
| | - Lin Liao
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250014, China. .,Department of Endocrinology and Metabology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250014, China.
| | - Jianjun Dong
- Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
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Mindur JE, Swirski FK. Growth Factors as Immunotherapeutic Targets in Cardiovascular Disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2019; 39:1275-1287. [PMID: 31092009 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.119.311994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Growth factors, such as CSFs (colony-stimulating factors), EGFs (epidermal growth factors), and FGFs (fibroblast growth factors), are signaling proteins that control a wide range of cellular functions. Although growth factor networks are critical for intercellular communication and tissue homeostasis, their abnormal production or regulation occurs in various pathologies. Clinical strategies that target growth factors or their receptors are used to treat a variety of conditions but have yet to be adopted for cardiovascular disease. In this review, we focus on M-CSF (macrophage-CSF), GM-CSF (granulocyte-M-CSF), IL (interleukin)-3, EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), and FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21). We first discuss the efficacy of targeting these growth factors in other disease contexts (ie, inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, cancer, or metabolic disorders) and then consider arguments for or against targeting them to treat cardiovascular disease. Visual Overview- An online visual overview is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Mindur
- From the Graduate Program in Immunology (J.E.M.), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston.,Center for Systems Biology (J.E.M., F.K.S.), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Filip K Swirski
- Center for Systems Biology (J.E.M., F.K.S.), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston.,Department of Radiology (F.K.S.), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston
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Rasheed A, Tsai R, Cummins CL. Loss of the Liver X Receptors Disrupts the Balance of Hematopoietic Populations, With Detrimental Effects on Endothelial Progenitor Cells. J Am Heart Assoc 2018; 7:JAHA.117.007787. [PMID: 29739800 PMCID: PMC6015321 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.117.007787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background The liver X receptors (LXRs; α/β) are nuclear receptors known to regulate cholesterol homeostasis and the production of select hematopoietic populations. The objective of this study was to determine the importance of LXRs and a high‐fat high‐cholesterol diet on global hematopoiesis, with special emphasis on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a vasoreparative cell type that is derived from bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells. Methods and Results Wild‐type and LXR double‐knockout (Lxrαβ−/−) mice were fed a Western diet (WD) to increase plasma cholesterol levels. In WD‐fed Lxrαβ−/− mice, flow cytometry and complete blood cell counts revealed that hematopoietic stem cells, a myeloid progenitor, and mature circulating myeloid cells were increased; EPC numbers were significantly decreased. Hematopoietic stem cells from WD‐fed Lxrαβ−/− mice showed increased cholesterol content, along with increased myeloid colony formation compared with chow‐fed mice. In contrast, EPCs from WD‐fed Lxrαβ−/− mice also demonstrated increased cellular cholesterol content that was associated with greater expression of the endothelial lineage markers Cd144 and Vegfr2, suggesting accelerated differentiation of the EPCs. Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with conditioned medium collected from these EPCs increased THP‐1 monocyte adhesion. Increased monocyte adhesion to conditioned medium–treated endothelial cells was recapitulated with conditioned medium from Lxrαβ−/−EPCs treated with cholesterol ex vivo, suggesting cholesterol is the main component of the WD inducing EPC dysfunction. Conclusions LXRs are crucial for maintaining the balance of hematopoietic cells in a hypercholesterolemic environment and for mitigating the negative effects of cholesterol on EPC differentiation/secretome changes that promote monocyte‐endothelial adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil Rasheed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ricky Tsai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carolyn L Cummins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada .,Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,The Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Vogiatzi G, Briasoulis A, Tsalamandris S, Tousoulis D. Stem-Cell Therapy. Coron Artery Dis 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-811908-2.00016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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The Effect of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor on the Progression of Atherosclerosis in Animal Models: A Meta-Analysis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:6705363. [PMID: 29138752 PMCID: PMC5613364 DOI: 10.1155/2017/6705363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Atherosclerosis is a common inflammatory disease. Stem cell and endothelial progenitor cell treatments can improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a mobilisation agent, mobilising stem cells from the bone marrow to circulation in the blood. G-CSF may constitute a treatment of atherosclerosis. We have conducted meta-analysis to evaluate the current evidence for the effect of G-CSF on the progression of atherosclerosis in animal models and to provide reference for preclinical experiments and future human clinical trials of atherosclerosis treatment. Methods We searched several databases and conducted a meta-analysis across seven articles using a random-effect model. All statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager Version 5.2 and Stata 12.0. Results We found that G-CSF therapy was associated with reduced atherosclerotic lesion area (weighted mean difference (WMD): 7.29%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.06-12.52%; P = 0.006). No significant differences in total serum cholesterol (P = 0.54) and triglyceride levels (P = 0.95) were noted in G-CSF treatment groups compared with controls. Multivariable metaregression analysis revealed that the animal type (rabbit, P = 0.022) and frequency of G-CSF administration (>20, P = 0.007) impacted the atherosclerotic lesion area changes. Conclusion The meta-analysis suggested that G-CSF treatment might inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis in animal models.
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Vascular Ageing and Exercise: Focus on Cellular Reparative Processes. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2015; 2016:3583956. [PMID: 26697131 PMCID: PMC4678076 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3583956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ageing is associated with an increased risk of developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The increased risk can be attributable to increased prolonged exposure to oxidative stress. Often, CVD is preceded by endothelial dysfunction, which carries with it a proatherothrombotic phenotype. Endothelial senescence and reduced production and release of nitric oxide (NO) are associated with “vascular ageing” and are often accompanied by a reduced ability for the body to repair vascular damage, termed “reendothelialization.” Exercise has been repeatedly shown to confer protection against CVD and diabetes risk and incidence. Regular exercise promotes endothelial function and can prevent endothelial senescence, often through a reduction in oxidative stress. Recently, endothelial precursors, endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), have been shown to repair damaged endothelium, and reduced circulating number and/or function of these cells is associated with ageing. Exercise can modulate both number and function of these cells to promote endothelial homeostasis. In this review we look at the effects of advancing age on the endothelium and these endothelial precursors and how exercise appears to offset this “vascular ageing” process.
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Alexandru N, Andrei E, Dragan E, Georgescu A. Interaction of platelets with endothelial progenitor cells in the experimental atherosclerosis: Role of transplanted endothelial progenitor cells and platelet microparticles. Biol Cell 2015; 107:189-204. [DOI: 10.1111/boc.201400071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicoleta Alexandru
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology ‘Nicolae Simionescu’ of the Romanian Academy; Bucharest Romania
| | - Eugen Andrei
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology ‘Nicolae Simionescu’ of the Romanian Academy; Bucharest Romania
| | - Emanuel Dragan
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology ‘Nicolae Simionescu’ of the Romanian Academy; Bucharest Romania
| | - Adriana Georgescu
- Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology ‘Nicolae Simionescu’ of the Romanian Academy; Bucharest Romania
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Su J, Zhou H, Tao Y, Guo J, Guo Z, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Tang Y, Dong Q, Hu R. G-CSF protects human brain vascular endothelial cells injury induced by high glucose, free fatty acids and hypoxia through MAPK and Akt signaling. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120707. [PMID: 25849550 PMCID: PMC4388714 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been shown to play a neuroprotective role in ischemic stroke by mobilizing bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), promoting angiogenesis, and inhibiting apoptosis. Impairments in mobilization and function of the BM-derived EPCs have previously been reported in animal and human studies of diabetes where there is both reduction in the levels of the BM-derived EPCs and its ability to promote angiogenesis. This is hypothesized to account for the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications such as stroke. Here, we sought to investigate the effects of G-CSF on diabetes-associated cerebral vascular defect. We observed that pretreatment of the cultured human brain vascular endothelial cells (HBVECs) with G-CSF largely prevented cell death induced by the combination stimulus with high glucose, free fatty acids (FFA) and hypoxia by increasing cell viability, decreasing apoptosis and caspase-3 activity. Cell ultrastructure measured by transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed that G-CSF treatment nicely reduced combination stimulus-induced cell apoptosis. The results from fluorescent probe Fluo-3/AM showed that G-CSF greatly suppressed the levels of intracellular calcium ions under combination stimulus. We also found that G-CSF enhanced the expression of cell cycle proteins such as human cell division cycle protein 14A (hCdc14A), cyclinB and cyclinE, inhibited p53 activity, and facilitated cell cycle progression following combination stimulus. In addition, activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and Akt, and deactivation of c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 were proved to be required for the pro-survival effects of G-CSF on HBVECs exposed to combination stimulus. Overall, G-CSF is capable of alleviating HBVECs injury triggered by the combination administration with high glucose, FFA and hypoxia involving the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and Akt signaling cascades. G-CSF may represent a promising therapeutic agent for diabetic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Su
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Houguang Zhou
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- * E-mail: (HZ); (RH)
| | - Yinghong Tao
- Department of General Medicine, Ouyang Hospital, Hongkou District, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingchun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032,China
| | - Zhuangli Guo
- Department of Emergency Neurology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Endocrine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yanyan Huang
- Department of Geriatric Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yuping Tang
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Qiang Dong
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Renming Hu
- Department of Endocrine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- * E-mail: (HZ); (RH)
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Zhang Z, Dong J, Lobe CG, Gong P, Liu J, Liao L. CCR5 facilitates endothelial progenitor cell recruitment and promotes the stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice. Stem Cell Res Ther 2015; 6:36. [PMID: 25889019 PMCID: PMC4404610 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-015-0026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Revised: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Unstable atherosclerotic plaques are prone to rupture, which leads to atherothrombosis. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are bone marrow-derived precursor cells that may repair vascular injury in atherosclerosis. Chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5) promotes mobilization of EPCs. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of CCR5-overexpressing EPCs on plaque stabilization in an apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− mouse model. Methods The expression of CCR5 and its cognate ligand chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5) was examined in atherosclerotic aortas of humans and mice by immunohistochemistry. Splenectomized ApoE−/− C57BL/6 J mice fed a high-fat diet for 24 weeks were intravenously injected with EPCs transfected with CCR5 overexpression lentivirus. The recruitment of EPCs over the atherosclerotic plaques was evaluated by immunofluorescence. The content of lipid, smooth muscle cells, monocytes/macrophages, and endothelial cells in atherosclerotic plaques was assayed by specific immunostaining. The serum levels of atherosclerosis-related inflammatory factors in ApoE−/− mice were measured by mouse atherosclerosis antibody array I. Results CCR5 and CCL5 are highly expressed in atherosclerotic plaques in both humans and mice. The ApoE−/− mice with CCR5-overexpressing EPC treatment demonstrated a more stable plaque formation with enhanced recruitment of EPC, reduced lipid, and macrophage content in the atherosclerotic plaques. CCR5-overexpressing EPC treatment also increased the content of endothelial cells and nitric oxide production in the plaques. In addition, the serum levels of interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, CD40, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the plaque contents of IL-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were reduced in mice with CCR5-overexpressing EPC treatment. Conclusions These findings suggest that CCR5 is a novel therapeutic target in EPC treatment for stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-015-0026-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwen Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
| | - Jianjun Dong
- Department of Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Corrinne G Lobe
- Miami Mice Research Corp., 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1 L7, Canada.
| | - Peiyun Gong
- Department of Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Wenhua Road, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Ju Liu
- Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
| | - Lin Liao
- Department of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
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