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Myosin VI and Associated Proteins Are Expressed in Human Macrophages but Do Not Play a Role in Foam Cell Formation in

Hayley J Dawson1, Andrew P Hibbert, Peter D Chantler

  • 1Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 0TU, UK.

International Journal of Vascular Medicine
|July 11, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Myosin VI (Myo6) is present in macrophages and involved in cell functions like adhesion and macropinocytosis. However, it does not appear to play a significant role in lipoprotein uptake or foam cell formation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Myosin VI (Myo6) is a motor protein known to interact with adaptor protein (AP)-2, disabled 2 (Dab2), and GAIP interacting protein C terminus 1 (GIPC1), playing a role in endocytosis.
  • Macrophages are key immune cells involved in lipid metabolism and foam cell formation, a process implicated in atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of Myosin VI (Myo6) in macrophages.
  • To determine the role of Myo6 in the endocytosis of lipoproteins and its potential involvement in foam cell formation.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to assess the expression of Myo6 and its binding partners in THP-1 and primary human monocyte-derived macrophages.
  • Immunofluorescence microscopy was employed to determine the subcellular localization of Myo6, AP-2 α 2, and Dab2.
  • Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down the expression of Myo6 and associated proteins to evaluate their impact on lipoprotein uptake.

Main Results:

  • Myosin VI (Myo6), AP-2 α 2, and Dab2 were expressed at both mRNA and protein levels in macrophages, while GIPC1 was detected only at the mRNA level.
  • Myo6 localized to membrane ruffles and protrusions, colocalizing with F-actin and AP-2 α 2, suggesting roles in cell adhesion, progression, and macropinocytosis.
  • Neither Myo6 nor its associated proteins significantly affected the uptake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or oxidized LDL (oxLDL), despite LDL/oxLDL decreasing Myo6 and GIPC1 mRNA expression.

Conclusions:

  • Myosin VI (Myo6) is expressed in macrophages and contributes to cellular processes such as adhesion and macropinocytosis.
  • The study's findings do not support a significant role for Myosin VI (Myo6) in the endocytosis of lipoproteins or the induction of foam cell formation in macrophages.

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