Palmitic and oleic acids induce macrophage foam cell formation through C/EBPβ activation

Foam cell formation is a critical early event in atherosclerosis. While oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-driven mechanisms are well studied, the contribution of free fatty acids (FFAs), particularly under high-fat dietary intake, is less defined. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ), a transcription factor regulating macrophage lipid metabolism, has been implicated, but its epigenetic role in FFA-induced lipid accumulation remains unclear.

We exposed RAW 264.7 macrophages and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages to palmitic and oleic acids to model FFA-driven foam cell formation in vitro. Multi-omics approaches, including RNA sequencing and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq), were applied to assess transcriptional and chromatin changes, and C/EBPβ deficiency was used to test its functional relevance. Lipid accumulation and CD36 expression were evaluated by BODIPY staining, flow cytometry, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Exposure to palmitic and oleic acids markedly increased intracellular lipid content and induced upregulation of C/EBPβ and CD36. Chromatin profiling revealed C/EBPβ-dependent accessibility at promoters of genes involved in f atty acids uptake and storage. Silencing of C/EBPβ significantly reduced CD36 expression and lipid accumulation, attenuating foam cell formation.

These findings establish a novel C/EBPβ-CD36 regulatory axis that drives FFA-induced foam cell formation through epigenetic remodeling. This mechanism provides new insight into dietary fatty acids-mediated macrophage reprogramming and suggests potential therapeutic targets for early atherosclerosis and lipid-driven cardiovascular disease.