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Published on: October 17, 2017
ALDH2 deficiency inhibits Ox-LDL induced foam cell formation via suppressing CD36 expression
Shujian Wei1, Luetao Zhang1, Bailu Wang2
1Department of Emergency, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Chest Pain Center, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Abstract:
Foam cell formation plays an important role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), a key enzyme for aldehyde metabolism, is associated with coronary artery disease and affects atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. However, the role of ALDH2 in foam cell formation remains unclear. Using peritoneal macrophages from ALDH2-deficient and control mice, we found that ALDH2 deficiency suppressed foam cell formation induced by oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) but not acetylated low-density lipoproteins (ac-LDL) ex vivo. After incubation with ox-LDL, ALDH2-deficient macrophages expressed lower levels of CD36 but the expression of other lipid metabolism-related proteins including SRA, LOX-1, ABCA-1, ABCG-1 and ACAT-1 was not changed in ALDH2-/- macrophages. Using CD36 inhibitor, we confirmed that CD36 contributes to the effect of ALDH2 on foam cell formation. PPARγ was downregulated in ox-LDL treated ALDH2-/- macrophages. 4-HNE was increased by ALDH2 deficiency and high concentration of 4-HNE suppressed the expression of PPARγ. These data suggest that ALDH2 plays an important role in foam cell formation via 4-HNE/PPARγ/CD36 pathway.
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