Objective. To characterize modifications of highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) in autoimmune gld mice that may be relevant to premature atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus, and to assess their relationship to specific aspects of autoimmune disease.Methods. HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, hepatic gene expression, and HDL biogenesis were measured in aging female gld and wild-type congenic mice. Autoantibodies, lymphoid organs, and cytokines were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, and multiplex assay, respectively.Results. Plasma HDL-C, HDL Apo A-I, and HDLassociated PON1 activity were reduced in aging gld mice in association with the development of autoimmunity, independent of changes in hepatic Apo A-I and PON1 expression or HDL biogenesis. Hepatic induction of the acute-phase reactant serum amyloid A1 resulted in its incorporation into HDL in gld mice. Deletion of the lipid-sensitive receptor G2A in gld mice (G2A ؊/؊ gld) attenuated reductions in HDL-C and PON1 activity without altering hepatic Apo A-I and PON1 expression, HDL biogenesis, or levels of acute-phase proinflammatory cytokines. Plasma anti-Apo A-I autoantibodies were elevated in aging gld mice commensurate with detectable increases in Apo A-I immune complexes. Autoantibody levels were lower in aging G2A ؊/؊ gld mice compared with gld mice, and anti-Apo A-I autoantibody levels were significantly related to HDL-C concentrations (r ؍ ؊0.645, P < 0.00004) and PON1 activity (r ؍ ؊0.555, P < 0.0007) among autoimmune gld and G2A ؊/؊ gld mice.Conclusion. Autoantibodies against Apo A-I contribute to reducing HDL-C and PON1 activity in autoimmune gld mice independently of hepatic HDL biogenesis, suggesting that functional impairment and premature clearance of HDL immune complexes may be principal mechanisms involved.
Background/Aims: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress protein, calreticulin (CRT), is required for the production of TGF-β-stimulated extracellular matrix (ECM) by fibroblasts. Since TGF-β regulates vascular fibroproliferative responses and collagen deposition, we investigated the effects of CRT knockdown on vascular smooth-muscle cell (VSMC) fibroproliferative responses and collagen deposition. Methods: Using a carotid artery ligation model of vascular injury, Cre-recombinase-IRES-GFP plasmid was delivered with microbubbles (MB) to CRT-floxed mice using ultrasound (US) to specifically reduce CRT expression in the carotid artery. Results: In vitro, Cre-recombinase-mediated CRT knockdown in isolated, floxed VSMCs decreased the CRT transcript and protein, and attenuated the induction of collagen I protein in response to TGF-β. TGF-β stimulation of collagen I was partly blocked by the NFAT inhibitor 11R-VIVIT. Following carotid artery ligation, CRT staining was upregulated with enhanced expression in the neointima 14-21 days after injury. Furthermore, Cre-recombinase-IRES-GFP plasmid delivered by targeted US reduced CRT expression in the neointima of CRT-floxed mice and led to a significant reduction in neointima formation and collagen deposition. The neointimal cell number was also reduced in mice, with a local, tissue-specific knockdown of CRT. Conclusions: This work establishes a novel role for CRT in mediating VSMC responses to injury through the regulation of collagen deposition and neointima formation.
Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), the major lipid-binding protein of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), can prevent autoimmunity and suppress inflammation in hypercholesterolemic mice by attenuating lymphocyte cholesterol accumulation and removing tissue oxidized lipids. However, whether ApoA-I mediates immune suppressive or anti-inflammatory effects in normocholesterolemic conditions and the mechanisms involved remain unresolved. We transferred bone marrow from SLE-prone Sle123 mice into normal, ApoA-I knockout (ApoA-I−/−) and ApoA-I transgenic (ApoA-Itg) mice. Increased ApoA-I in ApoA-Itg mice suppressed CD4+ T and B cell activation without changing lymphocyte cholesterol levels or reducing major ApoA-I-binding oxidized fatty acids. Unexpectedly, oxidized fatty acid peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligands 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE) and 9-HODE were increased in lymphocytes of autoimmune ApoA-Itg mice. ApoA-I reduced Th1 cells independently of changes in CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells or CD11c+ dendritic cell activation and migration. Follicular helper T cells, germinal center B cells and autoantibodies were also lower in ApoA-Itg mice. Transgenic ApoA-I also improved SLE-mediated glomerulonephritis. However, ApoA-I deficiency did not have opposite effects on autoimmunity or glomerulonephritis, possibly due to compensatory increases of ApoE on HDL. We conclude that although compensatory mechanisms prevent pro-inflammatory effects of ApoA-I deficiency in normocholesterolemic mice, increasing ApoA-I can attenuate lymphocyte activation and autoimmunity in SLE independently of cholesterol transport, possibly through oxidized fatty acid PPARγ ligands, and can reduce renal inflammation in glomerulonephritis.
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