Hydrogen peroxide promotes the expression of angiopoietin like 4 in RAW264.7 macrophages via MAPK pathways

Previous studies including some vivo experiments and large scale clinical trials have indicated that angiopoietin like 4 (ANGPTL4) is involved in atherosclerosis. However, the specific mechanism underlying the process remains unresolved. Similarly, cumulative evidence indicated that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is closely related to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. The current study investigated whether H2O2 treatment can affect ANGPTL4 release in macrophage cells cell viability assay, western blot analysis, ELISA and immunofluorescence. It was determined that treatment with 0.25 and 0.5 mM H2O2 resulted in a significant increase in ANGPTL4 protein expression in macrophage cells. Mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways were implicated in the secretion of ANGPTL4 regulated by H2O2, and specific inhibitors of MAPK1 (also known as ERK) and p38 MAPK significantly decreased H2O2 induced ANGPTL4 protein expression. Accordingly, it was demonstrated that ANGPTL4 expression was regulated by H2O2 via ERK and p38 MAPK, but not the MAPK8 (also known as JNK) pathway. In view of the effects of H2O2 and ANGPTL4 on atherosclerosis, the influence of H2O2 on ANGPTL4 provided new insight into the mechanism of atherosclerosis.