Pub Date : 2024-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118555
Francesco Greco , Giulia Bertagna , Laura Quercioli , Angela Pucci , Silvia Rocchiccioli , Mauro Ferrari , Fabio A. Recchia , Liam A. McDonnell
Background and aims
Lipids constitute one of the main components of atherosclerosis lesions and are the mediators of many mechanisms involved in plaque progression and stability. Here we tested the hypothesis that lipids known to be involved in plaque development exhibited associations with plaque vulnerability. We used spatial lipidomics to overcome plaque heterogeneity and to compare lipids from specific regions of symptomatic and asymptomatic human carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
Methods
Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Plaque lipids were analyzed with the spatial lipidomics technique matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging, and histology and immunofluorescence were used to segment the plaques into histomolecularly distinct regions.
Results
Macrophage-rich regions from symptomatic lesions were found to be enriched in phosphatidylcholines (synthesized to counteract excess free cholesterol), while the same region from asymptomatic plaques were enriched in polyunsaturated cholesteryl esters and triglycerides, characteristic of functional lipid droplets. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of the fibrous cap of asymptomatic plaques were enriched in lysophosphatidylcholines and cholesteryl esters, know to promote VSMC proliferation and migration, crucial for the buildup of the fibrous cap stabilizing the plaque.
Conclusions
The investigation of the region-specific lipid composition of symptomatic and asymptomatic human atherosclerotic plaques revealed specific lipid markers of plaque outcome, which could be linked to known biological characteristics of stable plaques.
{"title":"Lipids associated with atherosclerotic plaque instability revealed by mass spectrometry imaging of human carotid arteries","authors":"Francesco Greco , Giulia Bertagna , Laura Quercioli , Angela Pucci , Silvia Rocchiccioli , Mauro Ferrari , Fabio A. Recchia , Liam A. McDonnell","doi":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118555","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118555","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aims</h3><p>Lipids constitute one of the main components of atherosclerosis lesions and are the mediators of many mechanisms involved in plaque progression and stability. Here we tested the hypothesis that lipids known to be involved in plaque development exhibited associations with plaque vulnerability. We used spatial lipidomics to overcome plaque heterogeneity and to compare lipids from specific regions of symptomatic and asymptomatic human carotid atherosclerotic plaques.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Plaque lipids were analyzed with the spatial lipidomics technique matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging, and histology and immunofluorescence were used to segment the plaques into histomolecularly distinct regions.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Macrophage-rich regions from symptomatic lesions were found to be enriched in phosphatidylcholines (synthesized to counteract excess free cholesterol), while the same region from asymptomatic plaques were enriched in polyunsaturated cholesteryl esters and triglycerides, characteristic of functional lipid droplets. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of the fibrous cap of asymptomatic plaques were enriched in lysophosphatidylcholines and cholesteryl esters, know to promote VSMC proliferation and migration, crucial for the buildup of the fibrous cap stabilizing the plaque.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The investigation of the region-specific lipid composition of symptomatic and asymptomatic human atherosclerotic plaques revealed specific lipid markers of plaque outcome, which could be linked to known biological characteristics of stable plaques.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8623,"journal":{"name":"Atherosclerosis","volume":"397 ","pages":"Article 118555"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142002389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-06DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118548
Franziska Grundler , Marcella Palumbo , Maria Pia Adorni , Francesca Zimetti , Bianca Papotti , Dietmar Plonné , Alfred Holley , Robin Mesnage , Massimiliano Ruscica , Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo
Background and aims
Long-term fasting (LF) is increasingly emerging as a non-pharmacological approach to modulate risk factors associated with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). However, protection from ASCVD is more tied to the functionality of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) than its plasma levels. Our prospective interventional study focuses on the functional properties of lipoproteins in modulating cholesterol homeostasis on peripheral cells and examines how LF may influence this and lipoprotein subclass composition. For that purpose, we investigated its impact on HDL-cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), and on serum cholesterol loading capacity (CLC).
Methods
Forty healthy subjects (50 % females) underwent medically supervised 9-day fasting (250 kcal/day) in a specialised facility. Thirty-two subjects had a follow-up examination after one month of food reintroduction.
Results
LF was well tolerated and increased self-reported energy levels. Fasting reduced triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and LDL3-C showed sustained reductions at follow-up. Only HDL-C, specifically HDL2-C levels, increased at follow-up. Total HDL-CEC decreased during LF and increased above baseline at follow-up. Fasting decreased ATP binding cassette (ABC)A1-mediated HDL-CEC whereas ABCG1-mediated HDL-CEC remained unaffected. Aqueous diffusion increased at follow up. LF decreased serum CLC and then returned to baseline levels.
Conclusions
LF not only maintains lipoprotein functionality but also contributes to a favorable shift in the atherogenic risk profile, which persists even after food reintroduction. This further emphasizes the importance of considering HDL functionality alongside traditional lipid measurements to understand the potential for non-pharmacological interventions like LF to promote cardiovascular prevention and health.
{"title":"HDL cholesterol efflux capacity and cholesterol loading capacity in long-term fasting: Evidence from a prospective, single-arm interventional study in healthy individuals","authors":"Franziska Grundler , Marcella Palumbo , Maria Pia Adorni , Francesca Zimetti , Bianca Papotti , Dietmar Plonné , Alfred Holley , Robin Mesnage , Massimiliano Ruscica , Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo","doi":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118548","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118548","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aims</h3><p>Long-term fasting (LF) is increasingly emerging as a non-pharmacological approach to modulate risk factors associated with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). However, protection from ASCVD is more tied to the functionality of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) than its plasma levels. Our prospective interventional study focuses on the functional properties of lipoproteins in modulating cholesterol homeostasis on peripheral cells and examines how LF may influence this and lipoprotein subclass composition. For that purpose, we investigated its impact on HDL-cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), and on serum cholesterol loading capacity (CLC).</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Forty healthy subjects (50 % females) underwent medically supervised 9-day fasting (250 kcal/day) in a specialised facility. Thirty-two subjects had a follow-up examination after one month of food reintroduction.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>LF was well tolerated and increased self-reported energy levels. Fasting reduced triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and LDL3-C showed sustained reductions at follow-up. Only HDL-C, specifically HDL2-C levels, increased at follow-up. Total HDL-CEC decreased during LF and increased above baseline at follow-up. Fasting decreased ATP binding cassette (ABC)A1-mediated HDL-CEC whereas ABCG1-mediated HDL-CEC remained unaffected. Aqueous diffusion increased at follow up. LF decreased serum CLC and then returned to baseline levels.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>LF not only maintains lipoprotein functionality but also contributes to a favorable shift in the atherogenic risk profile, which persists even after food reintroduction. This further emphasizes the importance of considering HDL functionality alongside traditional lipid measurements to understand the potential for non-pharmacological interventions like LF to promote cardiovascular prevention and health.</p></div><div><h3>Trial registration number</h3><p>NCT05031598.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8623,"journal":{"name":"Atherosclerosis","volume":"397 ","pages":"Article 118548"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142048056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-02DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118549
Yoo Jin Shin , Seung Yun Chae , Hanbi Lee , Xianying Fang , Sheng Cui , Sun Woo Lim , Kang In Lee , Jae Young Lee , Can Li , Chul Woo Yang , Byung Ha Chung
Background and aims
The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated A4GALT suppression in rescuing endothelial dysfunction in Fabry disease (FD) endothelial cells (FD-ECs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).
Methods
We differentiated hiPSCs (WT (wild-type), WTC-11), GLA-mutant hiPSCs (GLA-KO, CMC-Fb-002), and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated A4GALT-KO hiPSCs (GLA/A4GALT-KO, Fb-002-A4GALT-KO) into ECs and compared FD phenotypes and endothelial dysfunction. We also analyzed the effect of A4GALT suppression on reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and transcriptome profiles through RNA sequencing.
Results
GLA-mutant hiPSC-ECs (GLA-KO and CMC-Fb-002) showed downregulated expression of EC markers and significantly reduced α-GalA expression with increased Gb-3 deposition and intra-lysosomal inclusion bodies. However, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated A4GALT suppression in GLA/A4GALT-KO and Fb-002-A4GALT-KO hiPSC-ECs increased expression levels of EC markers and rescued these FD phenotypes. GLA-mutant hiPSC-ECs failed to form tube-like structure in tube formation assays, showing significantly decreased migration of cells into the scratched wound area. In contrast, A4GALT suppression improved tube formation and cell migration capacity. Western blot analysis revealed that MAPK and AKT phosphorylation levels were downregulated while SOD and catalase were upregulated in GLA-KO hiPSC-ECs. However, suppression of A4GALT restored these protein alterations. RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated significant transcriptome changes in GLA-mutant EC, especially in angiogenesis, cell death, and cellular response to oxidative stress. However, these were effectively restored in GLA/A4GALT-KO hiPSC-ECs.
Conclusions
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated A4GALT suppression rescued FD phenotype and endothelial dysfunction in GLA-mutant hiPSC-ECs, presenting a potential therapeutic approach for FD-vasculopathy.
{"title":"CRISPR/Cas9-mediated suppression of A4GALT rescues endothelial cell dysfunction in a fabry disease vasculopathy model derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells","authors":"Yoo Jin Shin , Seung Yun Chae , Hanbi Lee , Xianying Fang , Sheng Cui , Sun Woo Lim , Kang In Lee , Jae Young Lee , Can Li , Chul Woo Yang , Byung Ha Chung","doi":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118549","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118549","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aims</h3><p>The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated <em>A4GALT</em> suppression in rescuing endothelial dysfunction in Fabry disease (FD) endothelial cells (FD-ECs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>We differentiated hiPSCs (WT (wild-type), WTC-11), <em>GLA</em>-mutant hiPSCs (<em>GLA-</em>KO, CMC-Fb-002), and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated <em>A4GALT</em>-KO hiPSCs (<em>GLA/A4GALT-</em>KO, Fb-002-<em>A4GALT</em>-KO) into ECs and compared FD phenotypes and endothelial dysfunction. We also analyzed the effect of <em>A4GALT</em> suppression on reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and transcriptome profiles through RNA sequencing.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p><em>GLA</em>-mutant hiPSC-ECs (<em>GLA</em>-KO and CMC-Fb-002) showed downregulated expression of EC markers and significantly reduced α-GalA expression with increased Gb-3 deposition and intra-lysosomal inclusion bodies. However, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated <em>A4GALT</em> suppression in <em>GLA/A4GALT</em>-KO and Fb-002-<em>A4GALT</em>-KO hiPSC-ECs increased expression levels of EC markers and rescued these FD phenotypes. <em>GLA</em>-mutant hiPSC-ECs failed to form tube-like structure in tube formation assays, showing significantly decreased migration of cells into the scratched wound area. In contrast, <em>A4GALT</em> suppression improved tube formation and cell migration capacity. Western blot analysis revealed that MAPK and AKT phosphorylation levels were downregulated while SOD and catalase were upregulated in <em>GLA</em>-KO hiPSC-ECs. However, suppression of <em>A4GALT</em> restored these protein alterations. RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated significant transcriptome changes in <em>GLA</em>-mutant EC, especially in angiogenesis, cell death, and cellular response to oxidative stress. However, these were effectively restored in <em>GLA/A4GALT-</em>KO hiPSC-ECs.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>CRISPR/Cas9-mediated <em>A4GALT</em> suppression rescued FD phenotype and endothelial dysfunction in <em>GLA</em>-mutant hiPSC-ECs, presenting a potential therapeutic approach for FD-vasculopathy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8623,"journal":{"name":"Atherosclerosis","volume":"397 ","pages":"Article 118549"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141979577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118507
Vincent Sier, Diana Van Heemst, Ko Willems Van Dijk, Raymond Noordam, Margreet De Vries
{"title":"Sex-specific plasma-proteome of incident coronary artery disease","authors":"Vincent Sier, Diana Van Heemst, Ko Willems Van Dijk, Raymond Noordam, Margreet De Vries","doi":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118507","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118507","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8623,"journal":{"name":"Atherosclerosis","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 118507"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141992846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118497
Eloi Gagnon, Jérôme Bourgault, Benoit Arsenault
{"title":"Impact of loss-of-function in angiopoietin-like 4 on the human phenome","authors":"Eloi Gagnon, Jérôme Bourgault, Benoit Arsenault","doi":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118497","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118497","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8623,"journal":{"name":"Atherosclerosis","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 118497"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141993019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118487
Ankit Sinha , Nadja Sachs , Elena Kratz , Jessica Pauli , Sophia Steigerwald , Vincent Albrecht , Thierry Nordmann , Hanna Winter , Lars Maegdefessel , Matthias Mann
{"title":"Lesion site-specific proteomics reveals that necrotic core and fibrous cap have the strongest association with human carotid plaque stability","authors":"Ankit Sinha , Nadja Sachs , Elena Kratz , Jessica Pauli , Sophia Steigerwald , Vincent Albrecht , Thierry Nordmann , Hanna Winter , Lars Maegdefessel , Matthias Mann","doi":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118487","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118487","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8623,"journal":{"name":"Atherosclerosis","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 118487"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141993158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118269
Andrej Gorbatenko , Noam Zelcer
{"title":"A genome-wide screen to decipher regulation of membrane saturation in mammalian cells using a novel fluorescent reporter","authors":"Andrej Gorbatenko , Noam Zelcer","doi":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.118269","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8623,"journal":{"name":"Atherosclerosis","volume":"395 ","pages":"Article 118269"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141993371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}