Skip to main content

Prosaposin mediates inflammation in atherosclerosis.

Science translational medicine

Authors: Mandy M T van Leent, Thijs J Beldman, Yohana C Toner, Marnix A Lameijer, Nils Rother, Siroon Bekkering, Abraham J P Teunissen, Xianxiao Zhou, Roy van der Meel, Joost Malkus, Sheqouia A Nauta, Emma D Klein, Francois Fay, Brenda L Sanchez-Gaytan, Carlos Pérez-Medina, Ewelina Kluza, Yu-Xiang Ye, Gregory Wojtkiewicz, Edward A Fisher, Filip K Swirski, Matthias Nahrendorf, Bin Zhang, Yang Li, Bowen Zhang, Leo A B Joosten, Gerard Pasterkamp, Arjan Boltjes, Zahi A Fayad, Esther Lutgens, Mihai G Netea, Niels P Riksen, Willem J M Mulder, Raphaël Duivenvoorden

Macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The inflammatory properties of these cells are dictated by their metabolism, of which the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is a key regulator. Using myeloid cell-specific nanobiologics in apolipoprotein E-deficient ( ) mice, we found that targeting the mTOR and ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1 (S6K1) signaling pathways rapidly diminished plaque macrophages' inflammatory activity. By investigating transcriptome modifications, we identified , a gene encoding the lysosomal protein prosaposin, as closely related with mTOR signaling. Subsequent in vitro experiments revealed that inhibition suppressed both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Transplantation of bone marrow to low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout ( ) mice led to a reduction in atherosclerosis development and plaque inflammation. Last, we confirmed the relationship between expression and inflammation in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into the development of atherosclerosis and identify prosaposin as a potential therapeutic target.

Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

PMID: 33692130

Participating cluster members