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Rinne P, Rami M, Nuutinen S, Santovito D, van der Vorst EPC, Guillamat-Prats R, Lyytikäinen LP, Raitoharju E, Oksala N, Ring L, Cai M, Hruby VJ, Lehtimäki T, Weber C, Steffens S. Melanocortin 1 Receptor Signaling Regulates Cholesterol Transport in Macrophages. Circulation 2017; 136:83-97. [PMID: 28450348 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.116.025889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1-R) is expressed by monocytes and macrophages, where it exerts anti-inflammatory actions on stimulation with its natural ligand α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The present study was designed to investigate the specific role of MC1-R in the context of atherosclerosis and possible regulatory pathways of MC1-R beyond anti-inflammation. METHODS Human and mouse atherosclerotic samples and primary mouse macrophages were used to study the regulatory functions of MC1-R. The impact of pharmacological MC1-R activation on atherosclerosis was assessed in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. RESULTS Characterization of human and mouse atherosclerotic plaques revealed that MC1-R expression localizes in lesional macrophages and is significantly associated with the ATP-binding cassette transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1, which are responsible for initiating reverse cholesterol transport. Using bone marrow-derived macrophages, we observed that α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and selective MC1-R agonists similarly promoted cholesterol efflux, which is a counterregulatory mechanism against foam cell formation. Mechanistically, MC1-R activation upregulated the levels of ABCA1 and ABCG1. These effects were accompanied by a reduction in cell surface CD36 expression and in cholesterol uptake, further protecting macrophages from excessive lipid accumulation. Conversely, macrophages deficient in functional MC1-R displayed a phenotype with impaired efflux and enhanced uptake of cholesterol. Pharmacological targeting of MC1-R in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice reduced plasma cholesterol levels and aortic CD36 expression and increased plaque ABCG1 expression and signs of plaque stability. CONCLUSIONS Our findings identify a novel role for MC1-R in macrophage cholesterol transport. Activation of MC1-R confers protection against macrophage foam cell formation through a dual mechanism: It prevents cholesterol uptake while concomitantly promoting ABCA1- and ABCG1-mediated reverse cholesterol transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petteri Rinne
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.).
| | - Martina Rami
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Salla Nuutinen
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Donato Santovito
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Emiel P C van der Vorst
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Raquel Guillamat-Prats
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Emma Raitoharju
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Niku Oksala
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Larisa Ring
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Minying Cai
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Victor J Hruby
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Christian Weber
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
| | - Sabine Steffens
- From Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany (P.R., M.R., D.S., E.P.C.v.d.V., R.Q.-P., L.R., C.W., S.S.); Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development and Therapeutics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland (P.R., S.N.); Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center, Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere (L.-P.L., E.R., N.O., T.L.); Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland (N.O.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson (M.C., V.J.H.); and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (C.W., S.S.)
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