NET-associated citrullinated histones promote LDL aggregation and foam cell formation in vitro
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH
Authors: Haritha, V. H.; George, Anjana; Shaji, Binchu, V; Anie, Y.
Abstract
Neutrophils have been recently identified in the atherosclerotic lesion and they can release neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) under the pro-inflammatory conditions prevailing in the lesion. Citrullinated histones (Cit-histones) are the major type of citrullinated proteins associated with NET release. Since elevated levels of citrullinated proteins have been detected in inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis, this study analysed the role played by NET and Cit-histones in different atherogenic events in vitro. First, neutrophil recruitment and NET release in the presence of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidised LDL (Ox-LDL) were analysed by Boyden's chamber method and microscopy respectively. Then, LDL oxidation and LDL aggregation in the presence of NET and Cit-histones were analysed spectroscopically. Foam cell formation in the presence of NET or Cit-histone was studied by both microscopic and spectroscopic methods. While neutrophil recruitment was facilitated by Ox-LDL and not by LDL, the extent of NET release was significantly increased in the presence of both LDL and Ox-LDL. In the presence of NET, LDL oxidation, aggregation and foam cell formation were found to be increased. Cit-histones were found to accelerate LDL aggregation and foam cell formation at higher citrulline levels. Altogether, the results suggest that both NET and NET-associated Cit-histone released at the lesion can play major roles as pro-atherogenic mediators. Inhibiting the action of NET or Cit-histone would, therefore, be beneficial in slowing down atherosclerotic progression.
Osteoporosis and osteoblasts cocultured with adipocytes inhibit osteoblast differentiation by downregulating histone acetylation
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Abuna, Rodrigo P. F.; Almeida, Luciana O.; Souza, Alann T. P.; Fernandes, Roger R.; Sverzut, Thales F. V.; Rosa, Adalberto L.; Beloti, Marcio M.
Abstract
Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass and adipocyte accumulation within the bone marrow that inhibits osteoblast maturation, leading to a high risk of fractures. Thus, we hypothesized that osteoblasts, besides being negatively affected by interacting with adipocytes, reduce the differentiation of neighboring osteoblasts through the same mechanisms that affect osteoblasts under osteoporotic conditions. We investigated the effect of osteoporosis on osteoblast differentiation and the effect of the conditioned medium of osteoblasts cocultured with adipocytes on the differentiation of other osteoblasts. Osteoporosis was induced by orchiectomy in rats and bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were differentiated into osteoblasts. Also, the bone marrow and adipose tissue MSCs were obtained from healthy rats and differentiated into osteoblasts and adipocytes, respectively. Messenger RNA expression, in situ alkaline phosphatase activity, and mineralization confirmed the inhibitory effect of osteoporosis on osteoblast differentiation. This harmful effect was mimicked by the in vitro model using the conditioned medium and it was demonstrated that osteoblasts keep the memory of the negative impact of interacting with adipocytes, revealing an unknown mechanism relevant to the osteoporotic bone loss. Finally, we showed the involvement of acetyl-histone 3 (AcH3) in bone homeostasis as its reduction induced by osteoporosis and conditioned medium impaired osteoblast differentiation. The AcH3 involvement was proved by treating osteoblasts with Trichostatin A that recovered the AcH3 expression and osteoblast differentiation capacity in both situations. Together, our findings indicated that AcH3 might be a target for future studies focused on epigenetic-based therapies to treat bone diseases.