Objective: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition and is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Macrophages play important roles in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Apoptosis is progressively observed while plaques develop, although the precise mechanisms and outcomes of apoptosis in atherosclerosis development and progression are still contradictory. This study was conducted to explore the effects of simvastatin and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα) ligands on apoptosis in human acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1) macrophage cells.
Methods: Briefly, the occupancy of RORα in the promoter regions of apoptotic pathway genes was demonstrated in THP-1 cell lines using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis. In order to modulate RORα activity, THP-1 macrophage cells were treated with specific ligands (CPG52608 and SR1001) and then viability as well as count of THP-1 macrophage cells were analyzed.
Results: We observed that simvastatin and both RORα ligands had a tendency to decrease THP-1 macrophage cell viability in culture. When compared with non-treated controls, simvastatin significantly decreased cell viability (p=0.04) and cell count (p=0.03). However, this negative effect of simvastatin seemed to be partly prevented by RORα ligands. In addition, bioinformatics analysis of ChIP-on-chip data demonstrated that several genes that are involved in the apoptotic pathway were likely RORα target genes. These genes were involved in the regulation of apoptosis through various pathways.
Conclusion: In summary, our study suggest that simvastatin-mediated macrophage apoptosis might be modulated by SR1001 administration. However, involvement of RORα in this modulation through potential apoptotic target genes remains elusive.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.14744/AnatolJCardiol.2016.7411 | DOI Listing |
Mol Ther Nucleic Acids
March 2025
Program of Infection and Inflammation, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia.
Currently, no approved antiviral drugs target dengue virus (DENV) infection, leaving treatment reliant on supportive care. DENV vaccine efficacy varies depending on the vaccine type, the circulating serotype, and vaccine coverage. We investigated defective interfering particles (DIPs) and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver DI290, an anti-DENV DI RNA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Laboratory of Pathogens and Host Immunity, UMR 5294 CNRS, UA15 INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34095, France.
Programmed-cell death is an antimicrobial defense mechanism that promotes clearance of intracellular pathogens. Toxoplasma counteracts host immune defenses by secreting effector proteins into host cells; however, how the parasite evades lytic cell death and the effectors involved remain poorly characterized. We identified ROP55, a rhoptry protein that promotes parasite survival by preventing lytic cell death in absence of IFN-γ stimulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj
January 2025
Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8510, Japan.
Background: Postprandial hyperglycemia induces expression of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which promotes the onset of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated whether a transient high-glucose culture enhanced sustained expression of TNF, or whether the induction is associated with histone acetylation, and bromodomain protein containing protein 4 (BRD4), which binds acetylated histone, in human juvenile macrophage-like THP-1 cells.
Methods: THP-1 cells were cultured in medium with high-glucose in the presence or absence of (+)-JQ1, an inhibitor of bromodomain and extra-terminal domain family, for 24 h (day 0).
Int Immunopharmacol
January 2025
Immunochemistry Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center of Toxins, Cell Signaling and Immune Response (CeTICS), CEPID, FAPESP, Brazil. Electronic address:
The complement system plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological conditions, including snake envenomation. In this study, we investigated the effects of Bitis arietans venom on the complement system using an ex vivo human whole blood model. Our findings demonstrate that B.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim
January 2025
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830063, China.
The aim of this study is to assess the impact of Tianxiangdan (TXD) on lipophagy in foam cells and its underlying mechanism in treating atherosclerosis, particularly focusing on its efficacy in lowering blood lipids. In vivo, ApoE-/- atherosclerosis mouse models were established for group intervention. Blood lipid levels of the mice were measured, lipid deposition and autophagy levels in atherosclerotic plaques were assessed, and co-localization of lipid droplets and autophagosomes was examined.
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