巨噬细胞能量代谢与动脉粥样硬化

巨噬细胞通过细胞表型转换与内环境的变化相适应。M1型巨噬细胞具有促炎作用,而M2型巨噬细胞具有抗炎和促纤维化作用。进展的易损动脉粥样硬化斑块内以M1型巨噬细胞为主。糖酵解是M1型巨噬细胞主要的供能途径,伴随细胞内大量活性氧的生成和炎性细胞因子的分泌。而稳定动脉粥样硬化斑块内以M2型巨噬细胞为主,M2型巨噬细胞以氧化磷酸化为主要供能途径,通过抑制巨噬细胞糖酵解,促进巨噬细胞氧化磷酸化,能够减轻动脉粥样硬化病变。本文综述了与巨噬细胞表型转换相适应的细胞能量代谢变化及其对动脉粥样硬化斑块进展和斑块稳定性的影响及其作用机制。     

S-炔丙基半胱氨酸延缓动脉粥样硬化进展并上调内皮细胞中内皮型一氧化氮合酶磷酸化（英文）

本研究旨在探究炔丙基半胱氨酸(S-propargyl-cysteine, SPRC)对延缓小鼠动脉粥样硬化进展的保护作用。用ApoE-/-小鼠通过右侧颈动脉串联双狭窄(tandem stenosis, TS)联合西方饮食构建动脉粥样硬化易损斑块小鼠模型，测定血管损伤面积、血脂和炎症水平来评估SPRC的抗动脉粥样硬化作用，组织病理学分析以评估斑块稳定性。为探究SPRC的保护机制，体外培养人脐静脉内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVECs)并用氧化型低密度脂蛋白(oxidized low-density lipoprotein,ox-LDL)刺激，用细胞活力测定试剂盒测定细胞活力，用Western blot和RT-qPCR分别检测磷酸化内皮型一氧化氮合酶(endothelial nitric oxide synthase, eNOS)蛋白和mRNA表达。结果表明，每天80 mg/kg SPRC组小鼠主动脉弓和颈动脉病变面积显著减少，血浆胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平显著降低，斑块中的胶原水平增加，且斑块中基质金属蛋白9(matri...     

胆固醇结晶激活动脉粥样硬化斑块巨噬细胞NLRP3炎症体的途径

动脉粥样硬化既是胆固醇在血管壁聚集的疾病,也是发生在动脉壁的一种低强度慢性炎症形式。近年来有研究证实胆固醇结晶在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中具有重要作用。新的显微技术证实,胆固醇结晶在动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的早期即已出现,并与早期炎症有关。胆固醇结晶通过诱发局部炎症,促进大的脂质核心形成;刺破纤维帽,导致斑块破裂进而促进动脉粥样硬化斑块的进展。在影响斑块进程中,NLRP3炎症体的激活对此发挥了重要的作用。NLRP3炎症体是研究最多最明确的炎症体,其与非炎症性疾病的发生发展密切相关。以胆固醇结晶激活NLRP3炎症体的途径作为研究靶点,为动脉粥样硬化的诊断和治疗提供了新的思路和方法。该文就胆固醇结晶在动脉粥样硬化斑块中激活巨噬细胞NLRP3炎症体的两种途径做一综述。     

氧化型低密度脂蛋白诱导血管平滑肌细胞凋亡的机理研究

近年来的研究发现,氧化型低密度脂蛋白(oxi-dizedlowdensitylipoprotein,OX-LDL)是导致动脉粥样硬化发生的重要因素[1].OX-LDL具有双重效应,既有强烈的促细胞生长效应,又可诱导细胞发生凋亡.这主要根据过氧化物量的变化而定,少量的OX-LDL可促进增殖,而长时间大量的OX-LDL作用于平滑肌细胞则可导致其凋亡[2].OX-LDL诱导的平滑肌细胞凋亡有助于氧化脂质的生成,导致动脉粥样硬化形成.在动脉粥样硬化晚期,由于斑块中的平滑肌细胞凋亡,细胞外基质分泌减少,使斑块极不稳定而易于破裂,诱发急性临床事件如心肌梗塞、猝死等的发生[3].OX-…     

动脉粥样硬化斑块钙化机制的研究进展

心血管疾病中动脉粥样硬化斑块的钙化是动脉粥样硬化的临床标志之一,主要发生在动脉血管的内膜.动脉粥样硬化斑块核心的钙化不会增加斑块的易损性,而粥样斑块纤维帽上的微钙化会加强纤维帽的周向应力,致使斑块的易损性增加.动脉粥样硬化斑块的钙化机制包括被动钙化和主动钙化,被动钙化受激素和局部信号的调节,主动钙化机制涉及复杂的细胞生命过程,基质囊泡、细胞凋亡、外泌体、氧化应激反应和细胞自噬等均参与了钙化过程.本文对动脉粥样硬化斑块的钙化机制的进展进行综述.     

红细胞膜的稳定性对动脉粥样硬化的影响

最近的研究发现,红细胞膜上胆固醇含量与动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,As)的严重程度密切相关。As斑块内破溃的红细胞膜上的胆固醇对坏死核的形成有促进作用。此外,测量红细胞的体积变化的红细胞分布宽度(red blood cell distribution width,RDW)可提示As的进展。红细胞通过多个方面对As有促进作用:(1)当红细胞渗入斑块内出血中时,这些红细胞被巨噬细胞氧化并吞噬,存在于这些红细胞膜的胆固醇加速动脉粥样斑块的形成;(2)当红细胞破裂时,红细胞释放血红蛋白,这会导致自由基的产生增多;(3)由于炎症和氧化应激对红细胞生成和红细胞体积影响,增加的RDW可能预测As的进展程度。本综述的目的是阐述红细胞膜上过量的胆固醇是如何影响血液流变学和氧气运输的,以及斑块内出血中的红细胞膜上的胆固醇不断沉积和局部强烈的氧化应激,促进As的进展,从而更好地了解红细胞在As中的作用,可能为As的预防和治疗提供新策略。     

Th17细胞和Treg细胞与动脉粥样硬化

动脉粥样硬化从脂质条纹的形成到更复杂的病变和斑块破裂的进程是由多种不同类型的细胞和细胞因子网络共同参与作用的,其中最主要的是Th17细胞和Treg细胞及它们分泌的细胞因子。大量研究显示,Th17细胞对动脉粥样硬化的作用仍存在争议,但大部分研究仍认为其具有促动脉粥样硬化的作用。Treg细胞具有抗动脉粥样硬化的作用,Th17／Treg平衡对动脉粥样硬化的发生和发展具有重要的调节作用。本文将对Th17细胞、Treg细胞的生物学特性以及Th17细胞、Treg细胞和Th17／Treg平衡对动脉粥样硬化影响的最新研究进展做一综述。     

Krüppel样因子4通过支持PPARγ信号通路维持细胞稳态以保护血管平滑肌细胞免受泡沫细胞样表型转化的损害（英文）

动脉粥样硬化(AS)被普遍认为是一种血管壁细胞(包括内皮细胞和血管平滑肌细胞)、循环细胞以及固有免疫原性细胞(例如单核细胞/巨噬细胞)等多种细胞综合作用引起的炎症性疾病。其中血管平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)胆固醇超负荷形成的泡沫细胞可能在动脉粥样硬化的进展中发挥重要作用。Krüppel样因子4(KLF4)是一种关键的抗炎转录因子,尤其在心血管疾病方面,已被证实发挥了重要的血管功能保护作用。然而,目前尚不清楚KLF4是否在AS过程胆固醇对VSMCs的损伤中发挥保护作用。该研究旨在探讨KLF4在AS进展过程中VSMCs泡沫细胞样表型转化的作用及其分子机制。小鼠AS造模结果显示,KLF4缺失增加动脉粥样硬化斑块面积(P<0.05),并增加动脉壁脂质蓄积(P<0.05)及血清胆固醇含量(P<0.05),加速AS进展。细胞内油红O染色及胆固醇含量测定研究证实,KLF4缺失促进VSMCs内胆固醇蓄积(P<0.05)。QRT-PCR和Western印迹结果证实,KLF4缺失促进VSMCs胆固醇摄取、合成、促炎因子分泌及巨噬细胞黏附和胆固醇损伤诱导的巨噬细胞标志物的表达(P<...     

胆固醇氧化产物与动脉粥样硬化

胆固醇在室温下易自发氧化。在多种食品及“标准”胆固醇制剂中常混杂有各种胆固醇氧化产物,该类物质在机体内对多种组织包括动脉壁细胞均有损害作用,是重要的动脉粥样硬化诱发因素。     

巨噬细胞胆固醇转运相关蛋白研究进展

动脉粥样斑块中泡沫细胞的形成与巨噬细胞胆固醇的转运密切相关,巨噬细胞胆固醇转运是胆固醇逆转运中的一个重要过程,它可清除外周组织过多的胆固醇,对维持细胞内胆固醇稳定、延缓动脉粥样硬化的发生发展有着重要意义.这个过程涉及到许多转运相关蛋白的作用,如三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运体A1/G1、载脂蛋白A-Ⅰ、胆固醇脂转运蛋白、卵磷脂胆固醇酰基转移酶等.本文就巨噬细胞胆固醇转运过程中相关蛋白的作用做一综述,以期为动脉粥样硬化相关疾病的防治研究提供新的思路.     

Oxysterol-induced osteoblastic differentiation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells is mediated through a PKC- and PKA-dependent pathway

Oxysterols form a large family of oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol that are present in circulation, and in human and animal tissues. The discovery of osteoinductive molecules that can induce the lineage-specific differentiation of cells into osteoblastic cells and therefore enhance bone formation is crucial for better management of bone fractures and osteoporosis. We previously reported that specific oxysterols have potent osteoinductive properties and induce the osteoblastic differentiation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells. In the present report we demonstrate that the induction of osteoblastic differentiation by oxysterols is mediated through a protein kinase C (PKC)- and protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent mechanism(s). Furthermore, oxysterol-induced-osteoblastic differentiation is marked by the prolonged DNA-binding activity of Runx2 in M2-10B4 bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) and C3H10T1/2 embryonic fibroblastic cells. This increased activity of Runx2 is almost completely inhibited by PKC inhibitors Bisindolylmaleimide and Rottlerin, and only minimally inhibited by PKA inihibitor H-89. PKC- and PKA-dependent mechanisms appear to also regulate other markers of osteoblastic differentiation including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin mRNA expression in response to oxysterols. Finally, osteogenic oxysterols induce osteoblastic differentiation with BMP7 and BMP14 in a synergistic manner as demonstrated by the enhanced Runx2 DNA-binding activity, ALP activity, and osteocalcin mRNA expression. Since Runx2 is an indispensable factor that regulates the differentiation of osteoblastic cells and bone formation in vitro and in vivo, its increased activity in oxysterol-treated cells further validates the potential role of oxysterols in lineage-specific differentiation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells and their potential therapeutic use as bone anabolic factors.     

Novel oxysterols observed in tissues and fluids of AY9944-treated rats: a model for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

Treatment of Sprague-Dawley rats with AY9944, an inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ(7)-reductase (Dhcr7), leads to elevated levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) and reduced levels of cholesterol in all biological tissues, mimicking the key biochemical hallmark of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS). Fourteen 7-DHC-derived oxysterols previously have been identified as products of free radical oxidation in vitro; one of these oxysterols, 3β,5α-dihydroxycholest-7-en-6-one (DHCEO), was recently identified in Dhcr7-deficient cells and in brain tissues of Dhcr7-null mouse. We report here the isolation and characterization of three novel 7-DHC-derived oxysterols (4α- and 4β-hydroxy-7-DHC and 24-hydroxy-7-DHC) in addition to DHCEO and 7-ketocholesterol (7-kChol) from the brain tissues of AY9944-treated rats. The identities of these five oxysterols were elucidated by HPLC-ultraviolet (UV), HPLC-MS, and 1D- and 2D-NMR. Quantification of 4α- and 4β-hydroxy-7-DHC, DHCEO, and 7-kChol in rat brain, liver, and serum were carried out by HPLC-MS using d(7)-DHCEO as an internal standard. With the exception of 7-kChol, these oxysterols were present only in tissues of AY9944-treated, but not control rats, and 7-kChol levels were markedly (>10-fold) higher in treated versus control rats. These findings are discussed in the context of the potential involvement of 7-DHC-derived oxysterols in the pathogenesis of SLOS.     

Biological activities of oxygenated sterols: physiological and pathological implications.

Oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol (oxysterols) are widely distributed in nature, being found in the blood and tissues of animals and man as well as in foodstuff. They exhibit many biological activities which are of potential physiological, pathological or pharmacological importance. Many oxysterols have been found to be potent inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis and one or more oxysterols may play a role as the physiologic feedback regulator of cholesterol synthesis. Oxysterols also inhibit cell replication and have cytotoxic properties, effects which suggest that these sterols may participate in the regulation of cell proliferation and may be potentially useful as therapeutic agents for cancer. Furthermore, there is considerable evidence that oxysterols may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Although the mechanism of action of oxysterols in all these instances is not well understood, the existence of cytosolic and microsomal proteins which bind oxysterols with high affinity and specificity suggests that this group of compounds may represent a family of intracellular regulatory molecules.     

The role of oxysterols in control of endothelial stiffness

Endothelial dysfunction is a key step in atherosclerosis development. Our recent studies suggested that oxLDL-induced increase in endothelial stiffness plays a major role in dyslipidemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we identify oxysterols, as the major component of oxLDL, responsible for the increase in endothelial stiffness. Using Atomic Force Microscopy to measure endothelial elastic modulus, we show that endothelial stiffness increases with progressive oxidation of LDL and that the two lipid fractions that contribute to endothelial stiffening are oxysterols and oxidized phosphatidylcholines, with oxysterols having the dominant effect. Furthermore, endothelial elastic modulus increases as a linear function of oxysterol content of oxLDL. Specific oxysterols, however, have differential effects on endothelial stiffness with 7-ketocholesterol and 7α-hydroxycholesterol, the two major oxysterols in oxLDL, having the strongest effects. 27-hydroxycholesterol, found in atherosclerotic lesions, also induces endothelial stiffening. For all oxysterols, endothelial stiffening is reversible by enriching the cells with cholesterol. oxLDL-induced stiffening is accompanied by incorporation of oxysterols into endothelial cells. We find significant accumulation of three oxysterols, 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, and 7-ketocholesterol, in mouse aortas of dyslipidemic ApoE^−/− mice at the early stage of atherosclerosis. Remarkably, these are the same oxysterols we have identified to induce endothelial stiffening.     

Oxysterols and redox signaling in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Oxysterols are oxidized species of cholesterol coming from exogenous (e.g. dietary) and endogenous (in vivo) sources. They play critical roles in normal physiologic functions such as regulation of cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Most of biological effects are mediated by interaction with nuclear receptor LXRα, highly expressed in the liver as well as in many other tissues. Such interaction participates in the regulation of whole-body cholesterol metabolism, by acting as “lipid sensors”. Moreover, it seems that oxysterols are also suspected to play key roles in several pathologies, including cardiovascular and inflammatory disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Growing evidence suggests that oxysterols may contribute to liver injury in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The present review focuses on the current status of knowledge on oxysterols’ biological role, with an emphasis on LXR signaling and oxysterols’ physiopathological relevance in NAFLD, suggesting new pharmacological development that needs to be addressed in the near future.     

Another cholesterol hypothesis: cholesterol as antioxidant

Current emphasis on cholesterol as agency if not cause of human atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease ignores the essentiality of cholesterol in life processes. Additionally ignored is the ubiquitous presence of low levels of oxidized cholesterol derivatives (oxysterols) in human blood and select tissues, oxysterols also implicated in atherosclerosis. Whereas such oxysterols may be regarded putatively as agents injurious to the aorta, an alternative view of some of them is here proposed: that B-ring oxidized oxysterols of human blood represent past interception of blood and tissue oxidants in vivo by cholesterol as an ordinary aspect of oxygen metabolism. Such interception and subsequent efficient hepatic metabolism of oxysterols so formed, with biliary secretion and fecal excretion, constitute as in vivo antioxidant system. Whether cholesterol, oxysterols, oxidized lipoproteins, or oxidants in blood, singly or in concert, cause or exacerbate human atherosclerosis remains to be understood.     

Mass spectrometric detection of cholesterol oxidation in bovine sperm

We report on the presence and formation of cholesterol oxidation products (oxysterols) in bovine sperm. Although cholesterol is the most abundant molecule in the membrane of mammalian cells and is easily oxidized, this is the first report on cholesterol oxidation in sperm membranes as investigated by state-of-the-art liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. First, oxysterols are already present in fresh semen samples, showing that lipid peroxidation is part of normal sperm physiology. After chromatographic separation (by high-performance liquid chromatography), the detected oxysterol species were identified with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry in multiple-reaction-monitoring mode that enabled detection in a broad and linear concentration range (0.05-100 pmol for each oxysterol species detected). Second, exposure of living sperm cells to oxidative stress does not result in the same level and composition of oxysterol species compared with oxidative stress imposed on reconstituted vesicles from protein-free sperm lipid extracts. This suggests that living sperm cells protect themselves against elevated oxysterol formation. Third, sperm capacitation induces the formation of oxysterols, and these formed oxysterols are almost completely depleted from the sperm surface by albumin. Fourth, and most importantly, capacitation after freezing/thawing of sperm fails to induce both the formation of oxysterols and the subsequent albumin-dependent depletion of oxysterols from the sperm surface. The possible physiological relevance of capacitation-dependent oxysterol formation and depletion at the sperm surface as well as the omission of this after freezing/thawing semen is discussed.     

Can oxysterols work in anti-glioblastoma therapy? Model studies complemented with biological experiments

Despite the progress made in recent years in the field of oncology, the results of glioblastoma treatment remain unsatisfactory. In this paper, cholesterol derivatives - oxysterols - have been investigated in the context of their anti-cancer activity. First, the influence of three oxysterols (7-K, 7β-OH and 25-OH), differing in their chemical structure, on the properties of a model membrane imitating glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells was investigated. For this purpose, the Langmuir monolayer technique was applied. The obtained results clearly show that oxysterols modify the structure of the membrane by its stiffening, with the 7-K effect being the most pronounced. Next, the influence of 7-K on the nanomechanical properties of glioblastoma cells (U-251 line) was verified with AFM. It has been shown that 7-K has a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on glioblastoma cells leading to the induction of apoptosis as confirmed by viability tests. Interestingly, significant changes in membrane structure, characteristic for phospholipidosis, has also been observed. Based on our results we believe that oxysterol-induced apoptosis and phospholipidosis are related and may share common signaling pathways. Dysregulation of lipids in phospholipidosis inhibit cell proliferation and may play key roles in the induction of apoptosis by oxysterols. Moreover, anticancer activity of these compounds may be related to the immobilization of cancer cells as a result of stiffening effect caused by oxysterols. Therefore, we believe that oxysterols are good candidates as new therapeutic molecules as an alternative to the aggressive treatment of GBM currently in use.