Abstract 616: Interleukin 22 Downregulates ABCG1 and Impairs Cholesterol Efflux in Macrophages

Abstract

IL22 belongs to the IL10 cytokine family and is expressed by T helper cells. IL22 functions on epithelial cells and has been shown to improve epithelial barrier function in inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and psoriasis; autoimmune diseases associated with elevated serum IL22. Patients with psoriasis have increased coronary artery disease and it was previously shown that macrophages from patients with psoriasis have impaired cholesterol efflux. The function of IL-22 on macrophage cholesterol metabolism is not known. Methods: ABCA1, ABCG1 and CD36 mRNA and protein expression, cholesterol uptake and efflux were studied in murine macrophages and human THP-1 macrophages. C57BL6/J mice with transgenic expression of hS100A12 and hS100A8/9 in myeloid cells were generated by using a bacterial artificial chromosome (hBAC/S100 mice). hBAC/S100 and WT littermate mice were breed into mice lacking the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts, RAGE. Results: Peritoneal macrophages from hBAC/S100 mice have reduced ABCG1 mRNA and protein expression, increased cholesterol uptake, and reduced cholesterol efflux compared to WT. This was abolished in hBAC/S100 mice lacking RAGE, the receptor for S100/calgranulin. Recombinant S100A12 or S100A8 protein (2.5 μg/ml) had no effect on ABCG1 expression in WT peritoneal macrophages or human THP-1 cells, suggesting other systemic intermediary products in hBAC/S100 mice. Serum IL22 and mRNA in splenic T cells were significantly increased in hBAC/S100 mice, and this was abolished in hBAC/S100 mice lacking RAGE. Moreover, r S100A12 increased IL22 mRNA by 2-fold in cultured human THP-1. Importantly, THP-1 macrophages treated with r IL22 (100 ng/ml) had reduced expression of ABCG1 and impaired cholesterol efflux to mouse serum, but not to Apoa1. Up regulation of ABCG1 and ABCA1 in response to LXR agonist TO901317 in THP-1 cells abolished the detrimental effects of IL22 on cholesterol efflux. Conclusion: S100/calgranulin induces IL22 in a RAGE dependent manner. IL22 down regulates ABCG1 and impairs cholesterol efflux in macrophages. This raises the hypothesis that IL22-mediated down regulation of cellular cholesterol efflux may be linked to improved epithelial barrier function, but may also augment atherosclerosis.