CD93 in macrophages: A novel target for atherosclerotic plaque imaging?

Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of CD93 in Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Cluster of Differentiation (CD) 93 (also known as complement protein 1 q subcomponent receptor C1qR1 or C1qRp) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that can also be present in a soluble (sCD93) form. Recent studies have investigated the role of this protein in cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present systematic review aims to assess the associations between CD93 and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and disease at both the proteomic and genomic levels.

METHODS

We conducted systematic searches in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to identify all human studies since inception to February 2023 that investigated the role of CD93 in CV risk factors, CVD, and CV-associated outcomes. The data collection and analysis have been independently conducted by two reviewers. The search terms included: cardiovascular, heart failure, acute stroke, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral artery disease, cardiovascular death, MACE, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, hyperuricemia, diabetes, cd93, c1qr, C1qR1, complement protein 1 q subcomponent receptor.

RESULTS

A total of 182 references were identified, and 15 studies investigating the associations between CD93 protein levels or CD93 genetic polymorphisms and the development or prevalence of CV risk factors (i.e., hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity) and CVD (i.e., heart failure, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke) were included. Although promising, the quality and dimension of the analyzed studies do not allow for a definitive answer to the question of whether CD93 may hold diagnostic and prognostic value in CVD.

Vsig4+ resident single-Kupffer cells improve hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in NASH

BACKGROUND

The role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is complex and unclear.

METHODS

Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on nonparenchymal cells isolated from NASH and control mice. The expression of Vsig4⁺ macrophages was verified by qPCR, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Primary hepatic macrophages were cocultured with primary hepatocytes or hepatic stellate cells (LX2) cells by Transwell to detect immunofluorescence and oil red O staining.

RESULTS

Two main single macrophage subsets were identified that exhibited a significant change in cell percentage when NASH occurred: resident Kupffer cells (KCs; Cluster 2) and lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs; Cluster 13). Nearly 82% of resident single KCs in Cluster 2 specifically expressed Cd163, and an inhibited subgroup of Cd163⁺ resident single-KCs was suggested to be protective against NASH. Similar to Cd163, Vsig4 was both enriched in and specific to Cluster 2. The percentage of Vsig4⁺-KCs was significantly decreased in NASH in vivo and in vitro. Hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells produced less lipid droplet accumulation, proinflammatory protein (TNF-α) and profibrotic protein (α-SMA) in response to coculture with Vsig4⁺-KCs than in those cocultured with lipotoxic KCs.

CONCLUSIONS

A subgroup of Vsig4⁺ resident single-KCs was shown to improve hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in NASH.

The SELP, CD93, IL2RG, and VAV1 Genes Associated with Atherosclerosis May Be Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers for Psoriasis

Purpose

Psoriasis and atherosclerosis are immunometabolic diseases. This study aimed to integrate bioinformatics and updated public resources to find potential biological markers associated with atherosclerosis that can cause psoriasis.

Patients and Methods

Microarray datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened, and functional enrichment analysis was performed. We identified psoriasis and atherosclerosis common immune-related genes (PA-IRGs) by overlapping immune-related genes (IRGs) with genes in the module most associated with psoriasis and atherosclerosis obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNAs). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was conducted to evaluate the predictive ability. The skin expression levels of diagnostic biomarkers were further verified by immunohistochemical staining. CIBERSORT, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), and Pearson's correlation analysis were applied to evaluate immune and lipid metabolism relationships in psoriatic tissues. In addition, a lincRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed to find the pathogenesis in which diagnostic markers may be involved.

Results

Four PA-IRGs (SELP, CD93, IL2RG, and VAV1) demonstrated the optimal diagnostic value, with an AUC above 0.8. The immune cell infiltration analysis showed that dendritic resting cells, NK cell activation, neutrophils, macrophages M2, macrophages M0, and B-cell memory were highly abundant in psoriasis. Immune response analysis showed that TNF family members, chemokine receptors, interferons, natural killer cells, and TGF-β family members might be involved in psoriasis. Diagnostic biomarkers are strongly associated with various infiltrating immune cells, immune responses, and lipid metabolism. A lincRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network consisting of 31 lincRNAs and 23 miRNAs was constructed. LINC00662 is involved in modulating four diagnostic biomarkers.

Conclusion

This study identified atherosclerosis-related genes SELP, CD93, VAV1, and IL2RG as potential psoriasis diagnostic markers. Provide novel insights into the possible regulatory mechanisms involved in psoriasis.

CD93 in macrophages: A novel target for atherosclerotic plaque imaging?

Noninvasive imaging atherosclerotic (AS) plaque is of great importance for early diagnosis. Recently, CD93 in MΦ was linked to atherosclerosis development. Herein, we have investigated whether CD93 in MΦ is a potential novel target for atherosclerotic plaque imaging. CD93^hi and CD93^lo MΦ were prepared with or without LPS stimulation, before biological activity was evaluated. A rat AS model was produced with left carotid artery clamped. Whole‐body/ex vivo phosphor autoradiography of the artery and biodistribution were investigated after incorporation of ³H‐2‐DG into CD93^hi and CD93^lo MΦ or after ¹²⁵I‐α‐CD93 (¹²⁵I‐anti‐CD93mAb) injection. The plaque tissue was subjected to CD93/CD68 immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry staining. CD93^hi and CD93^lo MΦ cells were successfully prepared without significant effect on bioactivity after incorporative labelled with ³H‐2‐DG. The AS model was successfully established. Biodistribution studies showed that adoptive transfer of ³H‐2‐DG‐CD93^hi MΦ or ¹²⁵I‐ α‐CD93 injection resulted in accumulation of radioactivity within the atherosclerotic plaque in the clamped left carotid artery. T/NT (target/non‐target, left/right carotid artery) ratio was higher in the ³H‐2‐DG‐CD93^hi MΦ adoptive transfer group than in the ³H‐2‐DG‐CD93^lo MΦ group (p < .05). Plaque radioactivity in the ¹²⁵I‐α‐CD93 injection group was significantly higher than in the ¹²⁵I‐IgG control group (p < .01). The higher radioactivity accumulated in the clamped left carotid artery was confirmed by phosphor autoradiography. More importantly, CD93/CD68 double‐positive MΦ accumulated at the atherosclerotic plaque in ³H‐2‐DG‐CD93^hi MΦ adoptive transfer group, which correlated with plaque radioactivity (r = .99, p < .01). In summary, both adoptive‐transferred ³H‐2‐DG‐labelled CD93^hi MΦ and ¹²⁵I‐α‐CD93 injection specifically targeted CD93 in atherosclerotic plaque. CD93 is a potential target in atherosclerotic plaque imaging.