Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation

Abstract

The development of unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques is associated with the induction of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via the activation of diverse inflammatory mediators in the circulating bloodstream. However, the underlying mechanisms through which NETs influence the microenvironment of atherosclerotic plaques and contribute to the development of unstable carotid plaques remain largely elusive. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of myeloid differentiation protein 1 (MD-1, LY86)-induced NETs underlying the crosstalk between unstable plaque formation and the plaque microenvironment. We employed bioinformatics analysis to identify key genes associated with carotid-unstable plaque, followed by comprehensive validation using various experimental approaches on tissue specimens and plasma samples classified based on pathological characteristics. Patients with carotid-unstable plaques exhibited elevated plasma concentrations of MD-1 (LY86), while patients with stable plaques demonstrated comparatively lower levels. Furthermore, soluble MD-1 was found to induce the formation of NETs through activation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. The proliferative and immature vascularization effects of NETs on endothelial cells, as well as their inhibitory impact on cell migration, are directly correlated with the concentration of NETs. Additionally, NETs were found to activate the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby upregulating ICAM1, VCAM1, MMP14, VEGFA, and IL6 expression in both Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and HAECs. Subsequently, a significant increase in intraplaque neovascularization by NETs results in poor carotid plaque stability, and NETs in turn stimulate macrophages to produce more MD-1, generating a harmful positive feedback loop. Our findings suggest that soluble MD-1 in the bloodstream triggers the production of NETs through activation of the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and further indicate NETs mediate a crosstalk between the microenvironment of the carotid plaque and the neovascularization of the intraplaque region. Inhibiting NETs formation or MD-1 secretion may represent a promising strategy to effectively suppress the development of unstable carotid plaques. Atherosclerosis, a disease where arteries get blocked with fat, is a main cause of heart disease and stroke. Predicting which atherosclerotic plaques will cause heart attacks is hard. Researchers analyzed gene data from unstable and stable carotid plaques, focusing on neutrophils and a protein called MD-1. The study involved 30 patients and 10 healthy volunteers to understand how MD-1 and neutrophils contribute to plaque instability. The main finding is that MD-1 could be a biomarker for unstable plaques, offering a new target for therapies to prevent major heart events. This progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind plaque instability could lead to better prevention strategies for heart disease. Future research may focus on developing treatments that target MD-1 and neutrophils to stabilize plaques and reduce the risk of heart attacks. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author.