Background and aims: Atherosclerosis is widely accepted to be an inflammatory disease driven by lipid accumulation and leukocyte recruitment. More recently, galectins, a family of β-galactoside binding proteins, have been shown to play a role in leukocyte recruitment among other immunomodulatory functions. Galectin (Gal) −9, a tandem repeat type galectin expressed by the endothelium in inflammatory environments, has been proposed to promote leukocyte recruitment. However, the role of Gal-9 in the context of monocyte recruitment remains elusive. Methods and Results: Here, we characterise the immunomodulatory role of Gal-9 in context of atherosclerosis. We show that ApoE−/−Gal-9−/− mice have a significantly reduced aortic plaque burden compared to their ApoE−/− littermate controls after 12 weeks of high fat diet. RNA sequencing data from two independent studies reveal Lgals9 expression in leukocyte clusters isolated from murine atherosclerotic plaques. Additionally, soluble Gal-9 protein induces monocyte activation and a pro-inflammatory phenotype in macrophages. Furthermore, we show that immobilised recombinant Gal-9 acts as capture and adhesion molecule for CD14+ monocytes in a β2-integrin and glycan dependent manner, while adhesion of monocytes to stimulated endothelium is reduced when Gal-9 is knocked down. Gal-9 also facilitates enhanced recruitment of leukocytes from peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients compared to healthy young and aged controls. We further characterise the endothelium as source of circulating Gal-9, which is increased in plasma of PAD patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: These results highlight a pathological role for Gal-9 as promoter of monocyte recruitment and atherosclerotic plaque progression, making it a novel target in the prevention of plaque formation and progression.

Galectin-9: A novel promoter of atherosclerosis progression / Krautter, F.; Hussain, M. T.; Zhi, Z.; Lezama, D. R.; Manning, J. E.; Brown, E.; Marigliano, N.; Raucci, F.; Recio, C.; Chimen, M.; Maione, F.; Tiwari, A.; Mcgettrick, H. M.; Cooper, D.; Fisher, E. A.; Iqbal, A. J.. - In: ATHEROSCLEROSIS. - ISSN 0021-9150. - 363:(2022), pp. 57-68. [10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.11.014]

Galectin-9: A novel promoter of atherosclerosis progression

Maione F.;
2022

Abstract

Background and aims: Atherosclerosis is widely accepted to be an inflammatory disease driven by lipid accumulation and leukocyte recruitment. More recently, galectins, a family of β-galactoside binding proteins, have been shown to play a role in leukocyte recruitment among other immunomodulatory functions. Galectin (Gal) −9, a tandem repeat type galectin expressed by the endothelium in inflammatory environments, has been proposed to promote leukocyte recruitment. However, the role of Gal-9 in the context of monocyte recruitment remains elusive. Methods and Results: Here, we characterise the immunomodulatory role of Gal-9 in context of atherosclerosis. We show that ApoE−/−Gal-9−/− mice have a significantly reduced aortic plaque burden compared to their ApoE−/− littermate controls after 12 weeks of high fat diet. RNA sequencing data from two independent studies reveal Lgals9 expression in leukocyte clusters isolated from murine atherosclerotic plaques. Additionally, soluble Gal-9 protein induces monocyte activation and a pro-inflammatory phenotype in macrophages. Furthermore, we show that immobilised recombinant Gal-9 acts as capture and adhesion molecule for CD14+ monocytes in a β2-integrin and glycan dependent manner, while adhesion of monocytes to stimulated endothelium is reduced when Gal-9 is knocked down. Gal-9 also facilitates enhanced recruitment of leukocytes from peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients compared to healthy young and aged controls. We further characterise the endothelium as source of circulating Gal-9, which is increased in plasma of PAD patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: These results highlight a pathological role for Gal-9 as promoter of monocyte recruitment and atherosclerotic plaque progression, making it a novel target in the prevention of plaque formation and progression.
2022
Galectin-9: A novel promoter of atherosclerosis progression / Krautter, F.; Hussain, M. T.; Zhi, Z.; Lezama, D. R.; Manning, J. E.; Brown, E.; Marigliano, N.; Raucci, F.; Recio, C.; Chimen, M.; Maione, F.; Tiwari, A.; Mcgettrick, H. M.; Cooper, D.; Fisher, E. A.; Iqbal, A. J.. - In: ATHEROSCLEROSIS. - ISSN 0021-9150. - 363:(2022), pp. 57-68. [10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.11.014]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/903310
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