화학공학소재연구정보센터
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol.440, No.2, 210-214, 2013
LOX-1 deletion and macrophage trafficking in atherosclerosis
Background: Atherosclerosis is associated with macrophage accumulation. LOX-1 has been shown to induce macrophage attachment, and its deletion (LOX-1 knockout, KO) reduces atherosclerosis in LDLr MO mice fed a high cholesterol diet. We examined differences in macrophage trafficking in age-matched wild type, LOX-1 MO, LDLr KO, and LDLr/LOX-1 double KO mice. Methods: Sections of aortas of mice fed high cholesterol diet were collected at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 19 and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Results: In the LDLr KO mice aorta, CD68 positivity (macrophage accumulation) increased over time up to 12 weeks, and then the accumulation fell modestly but significantly. The periaortal fat and adventitia showed more CD68 positivity than the media and intima. This pattern was also evident in the non-atherosclerotic areas. Importantly, LOX-1 MO and LDLr-LOX-1 double MO mice showed diminished CD68 positivity in comparison to wild type and LDLR KO mice, respectively. Further, macrophages from LOX-1 MO mice revealed a marked reduction in migration (vs. macrophages from wild type mice) in in vitro migration assay. Conclusions: LOX-1 deletion translates into reduction in macrophage trafficking in the aorta of LDLr MO mice. Most of the macrophage trafficking appears in the subadventitial regions. Published by Elsevier Inc.