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Title: iRhom2 promotes atherosclerosis through macrophage inflammation and induction of oxidative stress

Journal Article · · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
;  [1];  [2]; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Neurology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan (China)
  2. Department of Neurology, Aerospace Center Hospital, No. 15, Yuquan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100049 (China)

Highlights: • Increase of iRhom2 contributes to ox-LDL-incubated macrophages activation. • Down-regulation of iRhom2 expression attenuates inflammation in ox-LDL-incubated macrophages inflammatory infiltration. • iRhom2-knockdown alleviates oxidative stress in ox-LDL-incubated macrophages activation. • iRhom2 is expressed highly in HFD-fed ApoE{sup −/-} mouse artery. Atherosclerosis is a complex chronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by the formation of lipid-rich plaques on the inner walls of the arteries. Inactive rhomboid protein 2 (iRhom2) was recently determined as a necessary regulator for the shedding of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in immune cells. In the present study, we aimed to explore the effects of iRhom2 on the inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in RAW264.7 and THP-1-derived macrophages. The expression levels of iRhom2 were also investigated in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE{sup −/-}) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). iRhom2 was significantly induced by ox-LDL in macrophages, as confirmed by Western blotting and RT-qPCR analysis. Furthermore, iRhom2 knockdown showed significant suppressive effects on the activation of ox-LDL-induced RAW264.7 and THP-1-derived macrophages through reducing TACE and TNFR2 expressions, and the inactivation of the IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway. A reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and nitric oxide (NOX) activity and an increase in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were determined in the absence of iRhom2 expression. In addition, the NF-E2 related factor-2 (Nrf-2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway was also upregulated in ox-LDL-treated macrophages subjected to iRhom2 inhibition. Moreover, suppression of iRhom2 expression inactivated PI3K/AKT pathway activation, contributing to ROS reduction in ox-LDL-stimulated macrophages. iRhom2 was also significantly expressed in ApoE{sup −/-} mice fed HFD. Finally, we observed increased serum levels of TNF-α, TNFR1, and TNFR2 in patients with coronary artery atherosclerosis as compared to healthy volunteers. In conclusion, our findings suggested that iRhom2 played a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and that iRhom2 might be a potential therapeutic target against atherosclerosis.

OSTI ID:
23105529
Journal Information:
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 503, Issue 3; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2018 Published by Elsevier Inc.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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