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Wang X, Zhu L, Liu J, Ma Y, Qiu C, Liu C, Gong Y, Yuwen Y, Guan G, Zhang Y, Pan S, Wang J, Liu Z. Palmitic acid in type 2 diabetes mellitus promotes atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability via macrophage Dll4 signaling. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1281. [PMID: 38346959 PMCID: PMC10861578 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45582-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus are increasingly susceptible to atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability, leading to severe cardiovascular events. In this study, we demonstrate that elevated serum levels of palmitic acid, a type of saturated fatty acid, are significantly linked to this enhanced vulnerability in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Through a combination of human cohort studies and animal models, our research identifies a key mechanistic pathway: palmitic acid induces macrophage Delta-like ligand 4 signaling, which in turn triggers senescence in vascular smooth muscle cells. This process is critical for plaque instability due to reduced collagen synthesis and deposition. Importantly, our findings reveal that macrophage-specific knockout of Delta-like ligand 4 in atherosclerotic mice leads to reduced plaque burden and improved stability, highlighting the potential of targeting this pathway. These insights offer a promising direction for developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate cardiovascular risks in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiqiang Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
| | - Ling Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
| | - Yanpeng Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
| | - Chuan Qiu
- Division of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, Tulan Center of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Chengfeng Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
| | - Yangchao Gong
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
| | - Ya Yuwen
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
- Medical School, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, 712000, China
| | - Gongchang Guan
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China.
| | - Shuo Pan
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China.
| | - Junkui Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China.
| | - Zhongwei Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710068, China.
- Affiliated Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Medical Research Institute, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710072, China.
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