Nitro-oleic acid downregulates lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 expression via the p42/p44 MAPK and NFκB pathways.

Nitro-oleic acid (OA-NO2), acting as anti-inflammatory signaling mediators, are involved in multiple signaling pathways. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is well known as a cardiovascular risk biomarker. Our results showed that OA-NO2 downregulated the expression of Lp-PLA2 in a time- and dose-dependent manner, whereas native OA had no such effect. Furthermore, OA-NO2 could repress Lp-PLA2 expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of apo CIII-transgenic (apo CIII TG) pigs, which exhibited higher Lp-PLA2 expression and activity than did wild-type (WT) pigs. OA-NO2 inhibited Lp-PLA2 expression in macrophages, independent of nitric oxide formation and PPARγ-activation. However, OA-NO2 downregulates Lp-PLA2 by inhibiting the p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the nuclear factor κB (NFκB) pathways. When used to mediate anti-inflammatory signaling, the regulation of inflammatory cytokines and SOD by OA-NO2 might be associated with the reduction of Lp-PLA2. These results suggested that OA-NO2 might exert a vascular-protective effect partially via Lp-PLA2 inhibition.