Role of Sp1 in atherosclerosis

Specificity protein (Sp) is a famous family of transcription factors including Sp1, Sp2 and Sp3. Sp1 is the first one of Sp family proteins to be characterized and cloned in mammalian. It has been proposed that Sp1 acts as a modulator of the expression of target gene through interacting with a series of proteins, especially with transcriptional factors, and thereby contributes to the regulation of diverse biological processes. Notably, growing evidence indicates that Sp1 is involved in the main events in the development of atherosclerosis (AS), such as inflammation, lipid metabolism, plaque stability, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and endothelial dysfunction. This review is designed to provide useful clues to further understanding roles of Sp1 in the pathogenesis of AS, and may be helpful for the design of novel efficacious therapeutics agents targeting Sp1.

Human 5-lipoxygenase regulates transcription by association to euchromatin

Human 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) is the key enzyme of leukotriene biosynthesis, mostly expressed in leukocytes and thus a crucial component of the innate immune system. In this study, we show that 5-LO, besides its canonical function as an arachidonic acid metabolizing enzyme, is a regulator of gene expression associated with euchromatin. By Crispr-Cas9-mediated 5-LO knockout (KO) in MonoMac6 (MM6) cells and subsequent RNA-Seq analysis, we identified 5-LO regulated genes which could be clustered to immune/defense response, cell adhesion, transcription and growth/developmental processes. Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEG) identified cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2, PTGS2) and kynureninase (KYNU) as strongly regulated 5-LO target genes. 5-LO knockout affected MM6 cell adhesion and tryptophan metabolism via inhibition of the degradation of the immunoregulator kynurenine. By subsequent FAIRE-Seq and 5-LO ChIP-Seq analyses, we found an association of 5-LO with euchromatin, with prominent 5-LO binding to promoter regions in actively transcribed genes. By enrichment analysis of the ChIP-Seq results, we identified potential 5-LO interaction partners. Furthermore, 5-LO ChIP-Seq peaks resemble patterns of H3K27ac histone marks, suggesting that 5-LO recruitment mainly takes place at acetylated histones. In summary, we demonstrate a noncanonical function of 5-LO as transcriptional regulator in monocytic cells.

GPR55 Antagonist CID16020046 Protects against Atherosclerosis Development in Mice by Inhibiting Monocyte Adhesion and Mac-1 Expression

GPR55 recognizes several lipid molecules such as lysophosphatidylinositol. GPR55 expression was reported in human monocytes. However, its role in monocyte adhesion and atherosclerosis development has not been studied. The role of GPR55 in monocyte adhesion and atherosclerosis development was investigated in human THP-1 monocytes and ApoE^-/- mice using O-1602 (a potent agonist of GPR55) and CID16020046 (a specific GPR55 antagonist). O-1602 treatment significantly increased monocyte adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and the O-1602-induced adhesion was inhibited by treatment with CID16020046. O-1602 induced the expression of Mac-1 adhesion molecules, whereas CID16020046 inhibited this induction. Analysis of the promoter region of Mac-1 elucidated the binding sites of AP-1 and NF-κB between nucleotides -750 and -503 as GPR55 responsive elements. O-1602 induction of Mac-1 was found to be dependent on the signaling components of GPR55, that is, Gq protein, Ca²⁺, CaMKK, and PI3K. In Apo^-/- mice, administration of CID16020046 ameliorated high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis development. These results suggest that high-fat diet-induced GPR55 activation leads to the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells via induction of Mac-1, and CID16020046 blockage of GPR55 could suppress monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelial cells through suppression of Mac-1 expression, leading to protection against the development of atherosclerosis.

LPS induces ALOX5 promoter activation and 5-lipoxygenase expression in human monocytic cells

5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), coded by the ALOX5 gene, is expressed in leukocytes and catalyzes the formation of leukotrienes, pro-inflammatory lipid mediators. Leukotrienes are central to immune responses, but are also involved in inflammatory disorders and 5-LO expression is associated with leukemia stem cell survival. It is therefore important to understand mechanisms that control 5-LO expression. This study investigated the control of 5-LO expression and leukotriene biosynthesis following the maturation of human monocytic cells. MonoMac-1 (MM1) and THP-1 cells were incubated for up to 72 h with or without LPS and TGF-β. LPS, but not TGF-β, increased CD14 expression in both MM1 and THP-1 cells. Incubation with LPS (100 ng/ml) and TGF-β (1 ng/ml) synergistically increased the capacity of MM1 cells to produce 5-LO products from undetectable levels to 40±5 pmol/10⁶ cells. 5-LO product biosynthesis in THP-1 cells increased 25-fold. A synergistic effect of LPS and TGF-β was measured with increases in 5-LO mRNA of 54- and 13-fold in MM1 and THP-1 cells, respectively. 5-LO protein expression increased significantly in both MM1 and THP-1 cells. ALOX5 promoter activity was significantly elevated >2-fold in both cell lines following LPS treatment, but TGF-β was without effect. The main 5-LO products were cysteinyl-leukotrienes, however LPS and TGF-β did not impact on the capacity of the cells to metabolize leukotriene A₄. Overall, this study demonstrates that receptor-mediated stimulation of MM1 and THP-1 cells by LPS is associated with increased 5-LO expression. This represents a new mechanism by which leukotriene biosynthesis can be modulated by pathological agents.

Antithrombotic Effect of Artemisia princeps Pampanini Extracts in Vitro and in FeCl3 -Induced Thrombosis Rats

Extracts of several plants possess antithrombotic effects. Herein, we examined the antithrombotic effects of different extracts of Artemisia princeps Pampanini prepared using distilled water, hot distilled water, 70% ethanol, or subcritical water. The antithrombotic effects were determined using a co-culture system consisting of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-treated EA.hy926 cells and THP-1 cells. In addition, the coagulation time of plasma collected from healthy volunteers was evaluated in terms of the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. A carotid arterial thrombosis model was induced by ferric chloride in Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were treated with either sterile water or three different doses of the subcritical water extract for 2 weeks. The thrombus weight, gene expression of cell adhesion molecules, and histological characteristics were assessed. The results of in vitro studies revealed a significant inhibition in the adhesion of monocytes to EA.hy926 cells stimulated by TNF-α in the subcritical water extract-treated group. We also observed considerable suppression of the occlusion and mRNA expression of cell adhesion molecules in the in vivo experiments. This study suggests that Artemisia princeps Pampanini may have the potential to improve blood coagulation.

Effects of sinomenine in LPS-associated diseases are related to inhibition of LBP, Mac-1, and L-selectin levels

The aim of the research was to investigate the anti-endotoxin and anti-inflammatory effects of Sinomenine, an agent commonly found in Chinese herbal medicines. Endotoxin (i.e., 1 mg lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/kg)) was administered via intraperitoneal (IP) injection to piglets in high-, middle-, and low-dose sinomenine groups. Piglets were then treated with 1, 5 or 10 mg/kg sinomenine, intramuscularly (i.m.), 3 hr after LPS. Vehicle was administered, as above, to drug control group piglets followed 3 hr later by 10 mg/kg sinomenine i.m.. LPS control group piglets were challenged with 1 mg/kg LPS IP, followed by vehicle i.m., and naïve control piglets were treated with normal saline IP, followed by normal saline i.m., as above. Temperatures were measured, and blood samples were collected from the precaval veins of piglets at 12, 24, and 48 hr post-LPS or vehicle injection. Clinical signs were recorded, and index levels were analyzed via ELISA. Sinomenine was found to reduce the incidence and severity of LPS-induced toxicities, including body temperature elevation, cell adhesion, and systemic inflammation. These data suggest that sinomenine may be effective for regulating inflammatory responses and has the potential for use as an anti-endotoxin therapy.

BLTR1 in Monocytes Emerges as a Therapeutic Target For Vascular Inflammation With a Subsequent Intimal Hyperplasia in a Murine Wire-Injured Femoral Artery

Given the importance of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) signaling in vascular inflammation, we investigated the role of leukotriene signaling in monocytes on monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation (MMD) induced by HMGB1, and on vascular inflammation and subsequent intimal hyperplasia in a mouse model of wire-injured femoral artery. In cultured primary bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) stimulated with HMGB1, the number of cells with macrophage-like morphology was markedly increased in association with an increased expression of CD11b/Mac-1, which were attenuated in cells pre-treated with Zileuton, a 5-LO inhibitor as well as in 5-LO-deficient BMDCs. Of various leukotriene receptor inhibitors examined, which included leukotriene B4 receptors (BLTRs) and cysteinyl leukotriene receptors (cysLTRs), the BLTR1 inhibitor (U75302) exclusively suppressed MMD induction by HMGB1. The importance of BLTR1 in HMGB1-induced MMD was also observed in BMDCs isolated from BLTR1-deficient mice and BMDCs transfected with BLTR1 siRNA. Although leukotriene B4 (LTB4) had minimal direct effects on MMD in control and 5-LO-deficient BMDCs, MMD attenuation by HMGB1 in 5-LO-deficient BMDCs was significantly reversed by exogenous LTB4, but not in BLTR1-deficient BMDCs, suggesting that LTB4/BLTR1-mediated priming of monocytes is a prerequisite of HMGB1-induced MMD. In vivo, both macrophage infiltration and intimal hyperplasia in our wire-injured femoral artery were markedly attenuated in BLTR1-deficient mice as compared with wild-type controls, but these effects were reversed in BLTR1-deficient mice transplanted with monocytes from control mice. These results suggest that BLTR1 in monocytes is a pivotal player in MMD with subsequent macrophage infiltration into neointima, leading to vascular remodeling after vascular injury.

5-Lipoxygenase in monocytes emerges as a therapeutic target for intimal hyperplasia in a murine wire-injured femoral artery

Given the importance of leukotrienes in vascular inflammation induced by local tissue injury, this study investigated the role for 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) in monocytes in the development of intimal hyperplasia. As a mechanistic study, the importance of monocyte 5-LO in monocyte-macrophage differentiation with subsequent infiltration in neointima was evaluated. In a mouse model of wire-injured femoral artery, intimal hyperplasia started as early as 2wks after injury, and luminal area and blood flow were reduced due to increased neointima formation. Time-dependent increases in macrophage infiltration were observed in neointima and showed a positive relationship with neointima volume. In 5-LO-deficient (KO) mice or wild-type (WT) mice treated with an inhibitor of 5-LO activating protein (MK886, 1 and 10mg/kg), intimal hyperplasia and macrophage infiltration into neointima were reduced, but monocyte adhesion to injured luminal surface was not inhibited, which suggested 5-LO participates in monocyte-macrophage differentiation. In an in vitro study, monocyte-macrophage differentiation was found to be increased by high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), but this effect was attenuated in cells isolated from 5-LO-KO mice. Furthermore, macrophage infiltration and intimal hyperplasia were more prominent in 5-LO-KO mice transplanted with monocytes from WT mice than in 5-LO-KO mice transplanted with monocytes from 5-LO-KO mice. Taken together, it was suggested that 5-LO in monocytes played a pivotal role in monocyte-macrophage differentiation and subsequent infiltration of macrophage in neointima, leading to vascular remodeling after vascular injury.

Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) mediate and monitor food's impact on health

A hyperbolic, saturable, competitive dynamic of ligand binding to metabolic enzymes and lipid mediator receptors gives non-linear dose-response interactions that need careful management when planning or interpreting nutrient-based interventions. Relatively indiscriminate metabolism during accumulation of HUFA from n-3 and n-6 nutrients allows the amounts of n-3 and n-6 nutrients to determine the HUFA balance accumulated in tissue phospholipids. However, when HUFA-based eicosanoid actions are more intense with n-6 than n-3 mediators, they cause healthy physiology to shift toward pathophysiology. The proportion of n-6 in tissue HUFA directly relates to the severity of conditions caused by excessive n-6 actions. In the absence of n-3 nutrients, dietary linoleate (18:2n-6) has a very narrow therapeutic window below 1 percent of food energy, and it is widened by n-3 nutrients. The predictable quantitative dynamics of competing n-3 and n-6 nutrients allows design of successful preventive nutrition protocols that confirm and extend the epidemiologically observed benefits of n-3 nutrients.

LPS Up-Regulates ICAM-1 Expression in Breast Cancer Cells by Stimulating a MyD88-BLT2-ERK-Linked Cascade, Which Promotes Adhesion to Monocytes

Monocytes are the major inflammatory cells that infiltrate most solid tumors in humans. The interaction of tumor cells with infiltrating monocytes and their adhesion to these monocytes play a significant role in altering the tumor to become more aggressive. Recently, exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was suggested to promote cancer cell adhesion to monocytes; however, little is known about the details of the signaling mechanism involved in this process. In this study, we found that LPS up-regulates ICAM-1 expression in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, which facilitates their adhesion to THP-1 monocytes. In addition, we analyzed the signaling mechanism underlying the up-regulation of ICAM-1 and found that the siRNA-mediated depletion of BLT2 markedly suppressed the LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1 in MDA-MB-231 cells and the subsequent adhesion of these cells to THP-1 monocytes. Moreover, we demonstrated that myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) lies downstream of LPS/TLR4 and upstream of BLT2 and that this 'MyD88-BLT2' cascade mediates ERK activation and subsequent ICAM-1 expression, which is critical for the adhesion of MDA-MB-231 cells to THP-1 monocytes. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that LPS up-regulates ICAM-1 expression in breast cancer cells via a MyD88-BLT2-ERK-linked signaling cascade, leading to the increased adhesion of breast cancer cells to monocytes.

Dual role of leukotriene B4 receptor type 1 in experimental sepsis

BACKGROUND

The controversial results from different studies suggested that leukocyte recruitment mediated by leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and its receptor might improve pathogen clearance, but might also aggravate organ injury during sepsis. The present study was performed to compare the effect of BLT1 ligand LTB4 and its antagonist U-75302 on the development of sepsis.

METHODS

Sepsis in mice was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The mice were allocated into sham group, CLP group, U-75302 group, and LTB4 group. In the latter three groups, CLP mice were treated by intraperitoneal saline, U-75302, and LTB4, respectively. Their effect on the progression of sepsis were compared by histopathologic tests, level of systemic cytokines, counts of immune cells and bacterial clearance, and survival rate.

RESULTS

The histopathologic tests showed that U-75302 attenuated lung injury, whereas LTB4 aggravated liver injury. LTB4 increased the plasma levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and U-75302 increased the level of plasma interleukin-10. LTB4 increased whereas U-75302 reduced the neutrophil numbers in the peritoneal lavage fluid. LTB4 also increased the number of peritoneal and splenic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Bacterial clearance in blood and peritoneal lavage fluid was significantly enhanced in the LTB4 group. Both U-75302 and LTB4 did not change the survival rate significantly compared with vehicle, but mortality in the LTB4 group was significantly higher than in the U-75302 group. Dose response analyses were also performed to compare the effect of U-75302 and LTB4 at different doses. Different doses of both agents did not influence the survival rate of CLP mice.

CONCLUSIONS

U-75302 attenuates sepsis-induced organ injury, whereas LTB4 increases the leukocyte recruitment toward infection site, but LTB4 showed a more lethal effect than U-75302 during polymicrobial sepsis.

5-Lipoxygenase inhibitors attenuate TNF-α-induced inflammation in human synovial fibroblasts

The lipoxygenase isoform of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is reported to be overexpressed in human rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue and involved in the progress of inflammatory arthritis. However, the detailed mechanism of how 5-lipoxygenase regulates the inflammatory response in arthritis synovial tissue is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of lipoxygenase pathways in TNF-α-induced production of cytokines and chemokines. Human synovial fibroblasts from rheumatoid patients were used in this study. 5-LOX inhibitors and shRNA were used to examine the involvement of 5-LOX in TNF-α-induced cytokines and chemokines expression. The signaling pathways were examined by Western Blotting or immunofluorescence staining. The effect of 5-LOX inhibitor on TNF-α-induced chemokine expression and paw edema was also explored invivo in C57BL/6 mice. Treatment with 5-LOX inhibitors significantly decreased TNF-α-induced pro-inflammatory mediators including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human synovial fibroblasts. Knockdown of 5-LOX using shRNA exerted similar inhibitory effects. The abrogation of NF-κB activation was involved in the antagonizing effects of these inhibitors. Furthermore, 5-LOX inhibitor decreased TNF-α-induced up-regulation of serum MCP-1 level and paw edema in mouse model. Our results provide the evidence that the administration of 5-LOX inhibitors is able to ameliorate TNF-α-induced cytokine/chemokine release and paw edema, indicating that 5-LOX inhibitors may be developed for therapeutic treatment of inflammatory arthritis.

Lipopolysaccharide induced LOX-1 expression via TLR4/MyD88/ROS activated p38MAPK-NF-κB pathway

Lectin-like receptor for oxidized low density lipoprotein (LOX-1) plays a key role in endothelial ox-LDL endocytosis, endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. In the present study, the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on LOX-1 expression and the underlying molecular pathways were investigated. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with LPS and the protein expressions of LOX-1, TLR4, TLR2, MyD88, Nox4, Nox2, PI3K, p38MAPK, JNK, ERK, Nrf1, Nrf2 and p65 were examined by Western blotting. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was examined by flow cytometry with fluorescence probe DCFH2-DA. The role of TLR4, MyD88 and Nox4 were determined with specific siRNA. The endothelial ox-LDL uptake and the endothelial-monocyte adhesion were evaluated with DiI-ox-LDL and Hoechst 33342 respectively. The effect of LPS on LOX-1 expression in aorta tissue was also studied with male C57/BL6 mice by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The results showed that LPS induced LOX-1 protein expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of LOX-1 was also upregulated. The protein expression of LOX-1 and phosphorylated p38MAPK, p65 was significantly enhanced by LPS both in vitro and in vivo. LPS induced LOX-1 expression was blocked by siRNA for TLR4, MyD88, and Nox4 and inhibitors for p38MAPK, NF-κB, cyclooxygenase-2, and NADPH oxidase. Both LPS induced ox-LDL uptake and endothelial-monocyte adhesion were significantly inhibited by anti-LOX-1 antibody. LPS dramatically induced LOX-1 protein expression in aorta tissues. In conclusion, our data suggested that LPS induces LOX-1 expression via TLR4/MyD88/ROS activated p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway in endothelial cells, which provides new regulatory mechanisms for LOX-1 expression.

TLR4-mediated expression of Mac-1 in monocytes plays a pivotal role in monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is known to mediate monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells, however, its role on the expression of monocyte adhesion molecules is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of TLR4 on the expression of monocyte adhesion molecules, and determined the functional role of TLR4-induced adhesion molecules on monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. When THP-1 monocytes were stimulated with Kdo2-Lipid A (KLA), a specific TLR4 agonist, Mac-1 expression was markedly increased in association with an increased adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells. These were attenuated by anti-Mac-1 antibody, suggesting a functional role of TLR4-induced Mac-1 on monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. In monocytes treated with MK886, a 5-lipoxygenase (LO) inhibitor, both Mac-1 expression and monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells induced by KLA were markedly attenuated. Moreover, KLA increased the expression of mRNA and protein of 5-LO, suggesting a pivotal role of 5-LO on these processes. In in vivo studies, KLA increased monocyte adhesion to aortic endothelium of wild-type (WT) mice, which was attenuated in WT mice treated with anti-Mac-1 antibody as well as in TLR4-deficient mice. Taken together, TLR4-mediated expression of Mac-1 in monocytes plays a pivotal role on monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium, leading to increased foam cell formation in the development of atherosclerosis.