Enhanced atherosclerosis in TIPE2-deficient mice is associated with increased macrophage responses to oxidized low-density lipoprotein

J Immunol. 2013 Nov 1;191(9):4849-57. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1300053. Epub 2013 Sep 30.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis has been widely recognized as an inflammatory disease of the arterial wall in which macrophages play a major role. Yet, how macrophage-mediated pathology is regulated during atherosclerosis is poorly understood. TNF-α-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2, also known as TNFAIP8L2) is highly expressed in resting macrophages and can negatively regulate inflammation through inhibiting immune receptor signaling. We report in this article that TIPE2 plays a crucial atheroprotective role likely by regulating macrophage responses to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). TIPE2-deficient macrophages treated with ox-LDL produced more oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines, and exhibited heightened activation of the JNK, NF-κB, and p38 signaling pathways. As a consequence, TIPE2 deficiency in bone marrow-derived cells exacerbated atherosclerosis development in Ldlr(-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet. Importantly, ox-LDL markedly downregulated TIPE2 mRNA and protein levels in macrophages, suggesting that ox-LDL mediates atherosclerosis by TIPE2 inhibition. These results indicate that TIPE2 is a new inhibitor of atherosclerosis and a potential drug target for treating the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / immunology*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / deficiency
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / immunology*
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / immunology
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / immunology
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / immunology
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, LDL / deficiency
  • Receptors, LDL / genetics
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, LDL
  • TIPE2 protein, mouse
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases