Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 regulates cholesterol accumulation in ox-LDL-induced macrophages via the microRNA-17-5p/ABCA1 axis
MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS
Authors: Liu, Limin; Tan, Lili; Yao, Jian; Yang, Lin
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS), a major cause of cardiovascular disease, has developed into a serious challenge to the health system. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is associated with the pathogenesis of AS. However, whether MALAT1 can affect cholesterol accumulation in macrophages during AS progression, and the potential molecular mechanism involved in this progression have not been elucidated. In the present study, the mRNA expression level of MALAT1 was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and the protein expression level was detected via western blot analysis. Oil Red O staining was used for detecting lipid accumulation in macrophages. Bioinformatics, dual-luciferase reporter and RT-qPCR assays were used to investigate the relationship between MALAT1 and the microRNA (miR)-17-5p/ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) axis. The present results suggested that the MALAT1 expression level was significantly decreased in patients with AS and in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-stimulated macrophages. Knockdown of MALAT1 increased ox-LDL uptake, lipid accumulation and the total cholesterol (T-CHO) level in ox-LDL-induced macrophages. In addition, MALAT1 inhibition significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of scavenger receptor (SR) class B member 1, apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and ABCA1. However, MALAT1 increased the expression level of SR class A. Subsequently, the present study investigated whether MALAT1 could target miR-17-5p to regulate the expression level of ABCA1, which is involved in cholesterol efflux from macrophages. The present results suggested that inhibition of miR-17-5p reversed the effects of MALAT1 knockdown on T-CHO content, and protein expression levels of ApoE and ABCA1 in ox-LDL-stimulated macrophages. In summary, knockdown of MALAT1 may promote cholesterol accumulation by regulating the miR-17-5p/ABCA1 axis in ox-LDL-induced THP-1 macrophages.
HDL cholesterol protects from liver injury in mice with intestinal specific LXR alpha activation
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
Authors: Pierantonelli, Irene; Lioci, Gessica; Gurrado, Fabio; Giordano, Debora M.; Rychlicki, Chiara; Bocca, Claudia; Trozzi, Luciano; Novo, Erica; Panera, Nadia; De Stefanis, Cristiano; D'Oria, Valentina; Marzioni, Marco; Maroni, Luca; Parola, Maurizio; Alisi, Anna; Svegliati-Baroni, Gianluca
Abstract
Background and aims Liver X receptors (LXRs) exert anti-inflammatory effects even though their hepatic activation is associated with hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis. Selective induction of LXRs in the gut might provide protective signal(s) in the aberrant wound healing response that induces fibrosis during chronic liver injury, without hypertriglyceridemic and steatogenic effects. Methods Mice with intestinal constitutive LXR alpha activation (iVP16-LXR alpha) were exposed to intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 8 weeks, and in vitro cell models were used to evaluate the beneficial effect of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Results After CCl4 treatment, the iVP16-LXR alpha phenotype showed reduced M1 macrophage infiltration, increased expression M2 macrophage markers, and lower expression of hepatic pro-inflammatory genes. This anti-inflammatory effect in the liver was also associated with decreased expression of hepatic oxidative stress genes and reduced expression of fibrosis markers. iVP16-LXR alpha exhibited increased reverse cholesterol transport in the gut by ABCA1 expression and consequent enhancement of the levels of circulating HDL and their receptor SRB1 in the liver. No hepatic steatosis development was observed in iVP16-LXR alpha. In vitro, HDL induced a shift from M1 to M2 phenotype of LPS-stimulated Kupffer cells, decreased TNF alpha-induced oxidative stress in hepatocytes and reduced NF-kB activity in both cells. SRB1 silencing reduced TNF alpha gene expression in LPS-stimulated KCs, and NOX-1 and IL-6 in HepG2. Conclusions Intestinal activation of LXR alpha modulates hepatic response to injury by increasing circulating HDL levels and SRB1 expression in the liver, thus suggesting this circuit as potential actionable pathway for therapy.