Siglec-5 as a novel receptor mediates endothelial cells oxLDL transcytosis to promote atherosclerosis

Background

Excessive subendothelial retention of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and subsequent oxLDL engulfment by macrophages leads to the formation of foam cells and the development of atherosclerosis. Our previous study showed that the plasma level of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 5 (Siglec-5) was a novel biomarker for the prognosis of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of Siglec-5 in atherosclerosis have not been elucidated.

Methods

The interaction between oxLDL and Siglec-5 was detected by fluorescence colocalization and coimmunoprecipitation. The effect of oxLDL on Siglec-5 expression was detected in endothelial cells and macrophages, and the effect of Siglec-5 on oxLDL transcytosis and uptake was investigated. Siglec-5 was overexpressed in mice using recombinant adeno-associated virus vector serotype 9 (rAAV9-Siglec-5) to evaluate the effect of Siglec-5 on oxLDL uptake and atherogenesis in vivo. In addition, the effects of Siglec-5 antibodies and soluble Siglec-5 proteins on oxLDL transcytosis and uptake and their role in atherogenesis were investigated in vivo and in vitro.

Results

We found that oxLDL interacted with Siglec-5 and that oxLDL stimulated the expression of Siglec-5. Siglec-5 promotes the transcytosis and uptake of oxLDL, while both anti-Siglec-5 antibodies and soluble Siglec-5 protein attenuated oxLDL transcytosis and uptake. Interestingly, overexpression of Siglec-5 by recombinant adeno-associated viral vector serotype 9 (rAAV9-Siglec-5) promoted the retention of oxLDL in the aorta of C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, overexpression of Siglec-5 significantly accelerated the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in Apoe^−/− mice. Moreover, both anti-Siglec-5 antibodies and soluble Siglec-5 protein significantly alleviated the retention of oxLDL in the aorta of rAAV9-Siglec-5-transfected C57BL/6 mice and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in rAAV9-Siglec-5-transfected Apoe^−/− mice.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that Siglec-5 was a novel receptor that mediated oxLDL transcytosis and promoted the formation of foam cells. Interventions that inhibit the interaction between oxLDL and Siglec-5, including anti-Siglec-5 antibody or soluble Siglec-5 protein treatment, may provide novel therapeutic strategies in treating atherosclerosis.