Rongzhong Huang1, Yu Cao2, Hongrong Li2, Zicheng Hu3, Hong Zhang4, Lujun Zhang5, Wenhua Su4, Yu Xu6, Liwen Liang4, Narayan D Melgiri7, Lihong Jiang2, Xingsheng Li8. 1. Department of Gerontology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. 2. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 3. Department of Neurology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. 4. Department of Cardiology, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 5. Statistical Laboratory, Chuangxu Institute of Life Science, Chongqing, China; Department of Cardiology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. 6. Statistical Laboratory, Chuangxu Institute of Life Science, Chongqing, China. 7. Impactys Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Diego, California, USA. 8. Department of Gerontology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: xingsheng-li@hotmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The most dangerous atherosclerotic plaques, referred to as "vulnerable," are most likely to trigger acute atherothrombotic events such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke. Our goal was to uncover the molecular drivers of vulnerable plaque formation. METHODS: To elucidate the functional gene modules that drive vulnerable plaque formation, we performed a weighted gene coexpression network analysis integrated with a protein-protein interaction network analysis in human atherosclerotic carotid samples, which identified the candidate gene granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor 2 (GM-CSF) receptor alpha subunit (CSF2RA). Follow-up in vitro experiments were performed to elucidate the regulatory relationship between CSF2RA and the microRNA miR-532-3p as well as modifiers of macrophagic miR-532-3p-CSF2RA axis expression. Microarray and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) studies elucidated the effect of statins on carotid miR-532-3p-CSF2RA axis expression in patients with carotid atherosclerotic disease. Apoe-/-, Ldlr-/-, and Csf2ra mutant Apoe-/- mouse models of atherosclerosis were employed to assess the effects of agomiR-532-3p therapy in vivo. RESULTS: The integrated weighted gene coexpression network analysis/protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed that the macrophagic GM-CSF receptor CSF2RA is significantly upregulated in macrophage-rich vulnerable plaques. Follow-up analysis identified the miR-532-3p-CSF2RA axis, as miR-532-3p downregulates CSF2RA via binding to CSF2RA's 3'UTR. Macrophagic miR-532-3p-CSF2RA dysregulation was enhanced via modified low-density lipoprotein or tumor necrosis factor α exposure in vitro. Moreover, this miR-532-3p-CSF2RA dysregulation was observed in human vulnerable plaques and Apoe-/- mouse plaques, effects rescued by statin therapy. In vivo, agomiR-532-3p therapy suppressed murine plaque formation and promoted plaque stabilization in a Csf2ra-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Macrophagic miR-532-3p-CSF2RA axis dysregulation is a key driver in vulnerable plaque formation.
BACKGROUND: The most dangerous atherosclerotic plaques, referred to as "vulnerable," are most likely to trigger acute atherothrombotic events such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke. Our goal was to uncover the molecular drivers of vulnerable plaque formation. METHODS: To elucidate the functional gene modules that drive vulnerable plaque formation, we performed a weighted gene coexpression network analysis integrated with a protein-protein interaction network analysis in humanatherosclerotic carotid samples, which identified the candidate gene granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor 2 (GM-CSF) receptor alpha subunit (CSF2RA). Follow-up in vitro experiments were performed to elucidate the regulatory relationship between CSF2RA and the microRNA miR-532-3p as well as modifiers of macrophagic miR-532-3p-CSF2RA axis expression. Microarray and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) studies elucidated the effect of statins on carotid miR-532-3p-CSF2RA axis expression in patients with carotid atherosclerotic disease. Apoe-/-, Ldlr-/-, and Csf2ra mutant Apoe-/- mouse models of atherosclerosis were employed to assess the effects of agomiR-532-3p therapy in vivo. RESULTS: The integrated weighted gene coexpression network analysis/protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed that the macrophagic GM-CSF receptor CSF2RA is significantly upregulated in macrophage-rich vulnerable plaques. Follow-up analysis identified the miR-532-3p-CSF2RA axis, as miR-532-3p downregulates CSF2RA via binding to CSF2RA's 3'UTR. Macrophagic miR-532-3p-CSF2RA dysregulation was enhanced via modified low-density lipoprotein or tumor necrosis factor α exposure in vitro. Moreover, this miR-532-3p-CSF2RA dysregulation was observed in human vulnerable plaques and Apoe-/- mouse plaques, effects rescued by statin therapy. In vivo, agomiR-532-3p therapy suppressed murine plaque formation and promoted plaque stabilization in a Csf2ra-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Macrophagic miR-532-3p-CSF2RA axis dysregulation is a key driver in vulnerable plaque formation.