Background
Biologically active macrophage cells play a pivotal role in atherosclerosis development from the early stages of monocyte to macrophage differentiation, intimal accumulation of macrophages and their conversion to foam cells
via uptake of oxidised lipid, to the later stage of fibrous plaque development. In the context of atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of myocardial infarction and stroke, macrophages uniquely possess a dual functionality regulating and sustaining the chronic inflammatory response and regulating lipid accumulation and metabolism [
1], two of the most well documented pathways associated with the pathogenesis of the disease.
At sites of atherosclerotic lesion development, LDL passively diffuses through the tight junction of the dysfunctional endothelium [
2], where it becomes oxidised as a result of exposure to the oxidative stress of vascular cells thus giving rise to minimally oxidised-LDL which stimulates the overlying endothelial cells to express pro-inflammatory mediators which recruit and mediate the adhesion of leukocytes, primarily monocytes to the artery wall [
3]. Monocytes adhere to the activated endothelial cells
via specific interactions mediated by integrins [
4] and following transendothelial migration, rapidly differentiate into macrophages in response to growth factors, such as macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). M-CSF is required for the survival of both circulating monocytes and resident tissue macrophages [
5] and potentiates a number of monocyte functions including phagocytic activity, microbial killing, tumor cell cytotoxicity, enhanced synthesis of inflammatory cytokines [
6], and, of relevance to this study, differentiation of the monocyte cell into a mature macrophage. In atherosclerosis M-CSF mediates other macrophage-specific programmes, such as scavenger receptor (SR) and apo-E gene expression [
7].
ox-LDL is taken up by the mature macrophage
via scavenger receptor-mediated endocytosis, primarily CD36 and SR-A1, through endosomes. Endosomes-containing ox-LDL are trafficked to lysosomes where the cholesterol ester content of the ox-LDL is hydrolysed to fatty acids and free cholesterol, which is then trafficked out of the lysosome where it is re-esterified to cholesterol esters by acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acetyltransferase (ACAT). Cholesterol esters are stored in the cytosol or cleaved by the neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase to free cholesterol which is then effluxed from the macrophage
via several transporters, including ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family (ABCA-1, ABCG-1) and SR-B1 to acceptor molecules, such as apo-A1 and HDL for subsequent metabolism in the liver [
8,
9]. This reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pathway is regulated by the nuclear receptor Liver X Receptor (LXR).
During early stages of atherosclerosis, the concentrations of ox-LDL in the intima are sufficiently low for macrophage-mediated removal. However, as disease progresses and concentrations of ox-LDL increase, the balance between efflux and influx is altered, the RCT system is overwhelmed and free cholesterol is stored as cholesterol esters in the form of cytosolic lipid droplets. The accumulation of lipid droplets in the macrophage is indicative of foam cell formation and results in the fatty streak, the first clinical hallmark of atherosclerotic plaque [
10].
Macrophages are heterogeneous cell populations, of which the pan macrophage marker is CD68, a glycoprotein present on the lysosomal membrane of the cell that adapts a response to environmental cytokines. Macrophages respond to stimuli from their micro-environment and, consequently, show high plasticity and heterogeneity [
11]. The initial simplified classification of macrophage phenotypes is the discrimination between type-1 pro-inflammatory (MΦ1) and type-2 anti-inflammatory (MΦ2) macrophages on the basis of the cytokine environment created by two different classes of lymphocyte T helper (T
H1 or T
H2). Classically activated MΦ1 pro-atherogenic macrophages are primed by T
H1 cytokines, such as IFN-γ and IL-1β, and function to increase and sustain the ongoing inflammatory response
via production of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-12. Thus, continuous MΦ1 macrophage activity, contributes to tissue damage [
1,
12]. Alternatively activated MΦ2 anti-inflammatory macrophages are primed as a result of exposure to T
H2 cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-13 [
13] and promote tissue repair and healing. Both MΦ1 and MΦ2 macrophages have been identified in human atherosclerotic plaque where MΦ2 macrophages are present at more stable locations [
14]. More recently, it has been shown that the MΦ1 macrophage content of atherosclerotic plaques is associated with clinical incidence of ischemic stroke and increased inflammation [
15]. Furthermore, it has been shown that there is an MΦ2 to MΦ1 switch during atherosclerotic plaque progression, suggesting that interventional tools which could revert the macrophage infiltrate towards the MΦ2 phenotype, may exert an atheroprotective action [
16]. We have previously shown that, in a conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-induced model of atherosclerosis
regression, there is enrichment of MΦ2 genes in the aorta
in vivo [
17] which is in agreement with other studies which show that decreased lipid levels are associated with lower plaque lipid content and higher MΦ2 gene expression [
18].
CLA is a family of naturally occurring geometric dienoic isomers of the ω6 essential fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA) [
19]. CLA has a diverse range of benefits in health and diseases such as cancer [
20,
21], obesity [
22,
23], immune function [
24] and atherosclerosis [
25-
28].
We have previously shown that dietary administration of a 1% CLA blend of the two most abundant isomers (80:20,
cis-9,
trans-11-CLA:
trans-10,
cis-12-CLA) induces regression of pre-established atherosclerosis in the apo-E
−/− mouse model, despite a continuing high cholesterol challenge [
25],
via modulation of monocyte/macrophage function [
29,
30].
Moreover, we have shown that CLA inhibits foam cell formation
in vitro,
via regulation of the nuclear receptor coactivator, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (
PPAR)-γ coactivator (
PGC)-1α [
31]. Of relevance to this study, we have also shown that CLA increased macrophage polarization toward an anti-inflammatory MΦ2 phenotype
in vivo [
17] and that this is mediated
via PPARγ dependent and independent mechanisms.
The effects of CLA on cholesterol homeostasis and foam cell formation have also been investigated in macrophage cell lines where
t-10,
c-12-CLA and
c-9,
t-11-CLA decreased foam cell formation [
32] and increased expression of genes involved in RCT, such as
LXRα and its target gene
ABCA-1. In addition, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine production (in particular TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) were decreased following treatment with four different CLA isomers (
cis-9,
trans-11;
cis-9,
cis-11;
trans-9,
trans-11;
trans-10,
cis-12-CLA) in RAW-264.7 macrophages
via a
PPARγ dependent mechanism [
33]. However, to date, studies with CLA on primary HPBMCs are limited.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the atheroprotective CLA isomer c-9,t-11-CLA, the atheroprotective CLA blend (80:20 c-9,t-11:t-10,c-12-CLA) and the t-10,c-12-CLA isomer on the monocyte-macrophage-foam cell axis, specifically to identify changes in macrophage phenotype, inflammatory cytokine generation and cholesterol uptake and transport using HBPMC-derived macrophages, to ultimately further understand the mechanisms through which CLA mediates regression of pre-established atheroslerosis. Here, we provide evidence that CLA shifts HPBMC-derived macrophage differentiation to an anti-inflammatory phenotype, inducing expression of MΦ2 marker receptors and suppressing production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, we show that CLA inhibits foam cell formation by reducing ox-LDL uptake and increasing cholesterol efflux. Our data describes a novel functional role for CLA in regulating macrophage phenotype and foam cell formation in the context of atherosclerosis regression.
Methods
Isolation of human peripheral blood monocytes
All experiments were conducted in conformity with institutional guidelines and in compliance with international laws. All volunteers gave written informed consent. Whole blood from healthy volunteers was drawn into heparin-coated vacutainers (BD, UK/Ireland). All volunteers were non-smoking, aged 25–30 years and free from medication for at least 10 days. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was isolated by centrifugation (190 × g for 15 min) and then diluted 1:3 with PBS before addition to Lymphoprep (Nycomed, Norway) and centrifuged at 450 × g for 30 min. Buffy-coats were recovered using a pasteur pipette, washed twice with PBS and resuspended in 10 ml serum-free medium (SFM) M-199 (Thermo Scientific), supplemented with L-glutamine (6.8 mM) and antibiotics (100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin) and 10 ng/ml polymyxin-B-sulfate (Sigma-Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland). Monocytes were purified by plastic adherence in SFM for 2 hrs at 37°C, 5%CO2.
HPBMC-derived macrophage differentiation and cell treatment
Prior to
in vitro experiments, macrophage differentiation of freshly isolated HBPMCs was stimulated with 100 ng/ml M-CSF (Gibco-BRL Life Technologies Ltd, England, UK), in 10% human serum (HS) (Sigma-Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland). After four days of culture at 37°C, 5%CO
2, media was changed and a further 100 ng/ml M-CSF was added in 10% HS (Additional file
1).
For experiments on differentiating macrophages, cells were washed twice with warm PBS and treated for 48 hrs at 37°C, 5%CO2, in 1% HS, with 10 μM of cis-9,trans-11-CLA, trans-10,cis-12-CLA , CLA blend (80:20 c-9,t-11:t-10,c-12); linoleic acid (LA) and oleic acid (OA) (all Cayman Chemicals, MI, USA); 5 μM PPARγ agonist, troglitazone (TROG) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (vehicle control) (both Sigma-Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland) at day 4 of culture. At day 6 cells were fixed for immunocytochemistry or lysed for mRNA analysis.
For experiments on mature macrophages and foam cell formation, media was changed and further 100 ng/ml M-CSF were added in 10% HS after four days of culture at 37°C, 5%CO2. Cells were treated with CLA and controls as above at day 8 and fixed at day 10. Where relevant, cells were also treated with 1 μM LXRα agonist T0901317 (T1317) or 10 μM 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH) (both from Sigma-Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland).
After ten days of culture, as above described, mature macrophage were washed twice with warm PBS and incubated for further 4 hrs with 50 μg/ml of human ox-LDL or human fluorescently labelled Dil-ox-LDL (both Intracel MD, USA).
Following CLA and control treatments lipid loading, wells were washed three times with fresh medium and fluorescent Dil emission was measured in a Spectramax M2 (Molecular devices, CA, USA) plate fluorescence reader with 550/568 nm excitation/emission wavelength. The levels of Dil-ox-LDL were adjusted per cell number by measuring the intensity of DAPI fluorescence, with a second reading at 360/460 nm. Ox-LDL uptake measurements were repeated in triplicate in three independent experiments and the mean value was expressed as a percentage of vehicle control.
THP-1 cell culture and cell treatments
Human THP-1 monocytes (ATCC) were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (10%), penicillin (100 U/ml), streptomycin (100 ug/ml) and L-glutamine (2 mM) (Gibco BRL, UK). THP-1 monocytes (1 × 106) were differentiated to macrophages using 100 nmol/L phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (Sigma Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland) for 72 hrs.
THP-1 macrophage were treated for 18 hrs with DMSO, 25 μM of c-9,t-11-CLA and CLA blend, TROG (10 μM), T1317 (1 uM), alone or pre-incubated for 2 hrs with 10 μM of the PPARγ inhibitor, GW9662 (GW) (Cayman Chemicals, MI, USA), or 1 μM of the LXRα inhibitor, GSK2033, (GSK) (Axon).
RNA isolation and gene expression analysis
For gene expression experiments, HBPMC- or THP-1-derived macrophages and HPBMC-derived foam cells were washed twice with ice cold PBS, prior to addition of 200 μl of RLT buffer (Qiagen, UK). Total RNA was isolated from cell lysates using the RNeasy kit (Qiagen, UK) as per manufacturers’ instructions. Reverse transcription was carried out on 1 μg of total RNA using Superscript
TM III Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Relative gene expression quantification by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was performed on an ABI Prism 7900HT Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems Inc., UK).
MR and
SRA-1 expression were examined using specific Taqman assays (Applied Biosystems Inc., UK), whilst,
ABCA-1,
CD36,
CD14,
CD68 and
CD163 were measured using specific Syber green assays (Applied Biosystems Inc., UK) (Additional file
2). Ct values were normalised to 18s ribosomal RNA.
Immunocytochemistry
For visualisation of HPBMC-derived macrophages and foam cells, 5x105 cells were seeded onto glass coverslips placed in 12-well plate and treated, as above, over 6 days of culture. Mature macrophages or ox-LDL loaded-foam cells were then fixed in 3% formaldehyde (Sigma-Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland), permeabilized with Triton-X-100 (Sigma-Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland). Non-specific binding was prevented by blocking with 5% BSA (Sigma-Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland). Target proteins were then labelled using 1:100 of anti-human goat polyclonal CD68 and goat polyclonal MR (Sigma-Aldrich) and fluorescently labelled-secondary antibodies (1:200 of Alexa-Fluor 488, 568 or 647) (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, California), followed by Alexa Fluor 568-phalloidin staining (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, California), for F-actin, and DAPI (Sigma-Aldrich, Dublin, Ireland). For foam cell visualization, only DAPI staining was required as fluorescently labelled ox-LDL was used (Dil emission at 568nm). Cells were imaged using a Zeiss AxioImager M1 fluorescent microscope and the images were captured using an Olympus digital camera (Optronics, Goleta, CA).
Intracellular cholesterol measurement
Intracellular cholesterol levels were measured using the Amplex® Red Cholesterol Assay kit (Molecular Probes), based on an enzyme-coupled reaction that detects both free and esterified cholesterol.
After 10 days of culture and treatment with CLA isomers and controls as described above, HPBMC-derived macrophages and foam cells were lysed using T-PER. Firstly, a cholesterol standard curve was prepared, diluting the cholesterol reference standard. The Amplex Red reagent, containing the substrate HRP and both cholesterol oxidase/esterase, enzymes was prepared according to the manufacturers’ guidelines. 50 μl Amplex Red reagent was added to each sample and the samples were then incubated for 30 mins at 37°C. Fluorescence was measured using a microplate reader, using excitation in the range of 530–560 nm and emission detection at ~590 nm. Each point was corrected for background fluorescence by subtracting the values derived from the no-cholesterol control.
ELISA for cytokine quantification
Following 10 days of differentiation firstly to macrophages, and subsequenty to foam cells following exposure to ox-LDL, in the presence of CLA isomers or appropriate controls, as described above, HBPMC-derived macrophage/foam cell supernatants were collected and cleared by centrifugation (10,000 × g for 10 min at 4°C). The concentration of IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, INF-γ, TNF-α and IL12-p70 in conditioned media was determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using commercially available human 96 well-plate multiplex kit for tissue culture samples (MSD, Gaithersburg, MD, USA) according to the manufacturers’ guidelines.
Statistical analysis
Results are expressed as mean ± SEM or fold change relative to vehicle control. Experimental points were performed in triplicate with a minimum of three independent experiments (n = 3). Statistical comparisons between controls versus treated groups were made by Student’s unpaired t-test, assuming unequal variance with a two-tailed distribution. A value of p < 0.05 or greater were considered significant.
Discussion
Over the last decade, in parallel with the discovery of several anti-atherogenic properties of CLA [
27,
28], several studies have focused on identifying the cellular mechanism through which CLA mediates its effect with several lines of evidence, including our previous studies, suggesting that it is
via the monocyte/macrophage cell [
4,
17,
25,
26,
29-
31]. To date, the effect of CLA on the modulation of macrophage/foam cell phenotype and function have primarily been conducted in cell lines, in particular the murine RAW-264.7 [
35,
36] and the human THP-1 cells [
29], as well as in murine [
27] and rabbit models of atherosclerosis [
21,
28,
42]. Not surprisingly, the use of
in vivo models,
ex vivo cell culture systems and/or
in vitro immortalised cell lines, as well as different isomeric blends of CLA, have resulted in conflicting data in relation to the effect of CLA on macrophage function.
In this study, we used a translationally relevant cell model, namely human peripheral blood monocytes, to elucidate the effect of CLA on macrophage plasticity, foam cell formation, intracellular cholesterol metabolism and cytokine generation. Importantly, we examined the effect of the 80:20 blend, previously shown by us to induce regression and inhibit foam cell formation [
25,
31], as well as the atheroprotective isomer
c-9,
t-11 which inhibits monocyte adhesion/migration [
4,
29]. We also examined the
t-10,
c-12 isomer as a control, which has previously been shown to have no effect and, in some studies, in fact, increases atherosclerosis [
43]. Although CLA is a known ligand for the nuclear receptor PPARγ [
44,
45] and is thus a potential pathway through which CLA mediated its atheroprotective effects [
33], we have recently shown that the effect of CLA on monocyte function is mediated
via both PPARγ dependent and independent mechanisms [
4] and, in this study, we identify that CLA mediates its effects on the macrophage/foam cell
via an additional LXRα dependent mechanism.
Macrophage differentiation is diversely regulated by several growth factors [
46]. A major aim of this study was to examine if CLA primes human monocytes to adopt an MΦ2 phenotype. To address this, we used M-CSF, a known inducer of macrophage polarization [
47] and the effect of CLA isomers and the atheroprotective blend on the mRNA expression of macrophage markers was analysed, in the presence or absence of M-CSF stimulation. We show that, during early stages of monocyte-macrophage differentiation, modeled
in vitro by the absence of M-CSF, both CLA isomers and the 80:20 blend decreases
CD14, a receptor specific to the “monocytic phase” of the cell [
48], whilst, as differentiation progresses, the atheroprotective CLA isomer decrease
CD68 expression, a receptor which characterizes later stages of macrophage cell development [
40]. Of importance is the observation that CLA also upregulates the specific MΦ2-type markers
CD163 and
MR [
14], priming a switch towards an anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype. Our data suggest a potential PPARγ-dependent mechanism of CLA in the regulation of the aforementioned receptors. Indeed, this is supported by Bouhlel et al., who showed that PPARγ activation primes human monocytes into alternative macrophage, characterized by high levels of
MR, positively related to highly expressed PPARγ [
14].
In the absence of differentiating stimulus, in early monocyte-macrophage differentiation, both c-9,t-11-CLA and the atheroprotective CLA blend promoted a CD68high/MRhigh phenotype, whilst, when M-CSF-triggered, switched to a CD68med/MRhigh and a CD68low/MRhigh phenotype, thereby also regulating CD68 protein expression. Moreover, stimulation with M-CSF, amplifies the effect of c-9,t-11-CLA on the mannose receptor, which although expressed in resting conditions, albeit at very low levels, is significantly increased following treatment. Importantly, this data identifies a putative atheroprotective role for CLA, specifically c-9,t-11 isomer, in priming monocytes towards MΦ2 macrophage phenotype.
To fully understand the functional consequences of altered macrophage phenotype on foam cell formation, HPBMC-derived macrophages were pre-treated with CLA isomers prior to the addition of the pro-atherogenic ox-LDL.
c-9,
t-11-CLA and CLA blend decreased foam cell formation, and
t-10,
c-12-CLA isomer induced a similar, although less pronounced effect. Interestingly, both agonists of PPARγ and LXRα inhibited foam cell formation, suggesting a possible dual PPARγ/LXRα-dependent mechanism, through which CLA prevents foam cell formation. This is in keeping with our recent study on RAW macrophage cells, which shows that CLA mediates its effect on foam cell formation
via regulation of
PGC-1α, the transcriptional activator of both PPARγ, LXR and other nuclear receptors [
31].
The canonical route for ox-LDL to enter the cell is
via scavenger receptor-mediated uptake and inhibition of
CD36 and
SRA-1 scavenger receptor expression has been shown to limit foam cell formation [
49]. However, a second potential mechanism for the inhibition of foam cell formation is
via the RCT system which removes cholesterol to HDL for metabolism in the liver. Primarily, the ABC transporters, including ABCA-1, regulates RCT. Previous studies have shown that LXRα regulates cholesterol trafficking
via modulation of ABC efflux proteins [
8]. Thus, to better understand the mechanism through which CLA inhibits foam cell formation, both uptake and efflux of ox-LDL was examined, initially by analysing the expression of
SR-A1,
CD36 [
49,
50] and
ABCA-1 [
9,
51] following ox-LDL loading of mature HPBMC-derived macrophage. Furthermore, using the PMA-induced THP-1 macrophage cell line model, regulation of the aforementioned two nuclear receptors’ target genes
CD36 and
ABCA-1 expression was also verified in the presence of CLA isomers alone or in combination with PPARγ and LXRα antagonists, which, respectively, attenuates or abolished the CLA-induced upregulation of those genes. This data confirms that ox-LDL influx and efflux is controlled by a dual PPARγ/LXRα-dependent mechanism.
Our data shows that CLA inhibits foam cell formation, in the presence of an exogenous source of oxidized lipoproteins, by increasing expression of the PPARγ target
CD36, thus promoting the uptake of the relatively abundant presence of circulating lipids, mimicked
in vitro by loading cells using ox-LDL, which is known to activate PPARγ [
52]. In parallel with the increased lipid uptake, an increased efflux of those lipids is induced by CLA
via upregulation of the LXRα target
ABCA-1. This is in keeping with previous studies where it has been established that increased PPARγ activity results in an increase in
CD36 and a decrease in
SRA-1 expression [
52] and that a crosstalk between the two nuclear receptors, PPARγ and LXRα, induces a
CD36-mediated positive regulation of
ABCA-1 [
53-
55]. Interestingly, during early stages of macrophage differentiation, we show that the PPARγ agonist significantly reduced
ABCA-1 (data not shown), whilst, in foam cells,
ABCA-1 expression is rescued to the control level. This is likely due to the fact that ox-LDL activates the
PPARγ nuclear receptor, therefore, its agonist, mediates the restoration to a basal
ABCA-1 expression as previously documented [
56,
57].
Under normal homeostatic conditions, lipid that is taken into the macrophage can be efficiently metabolised and trafficked out of the cell via the RCT system, resulting in a balance between lipid uptake and efflux. In an atherogenic environment, however, where there are high concentrations of ox-LDL, there is a continuous influx of lipid and the increased intracellular concentration of free cholesterol overwhelms the RCT system. Excess cholesterol becomes esterified into cholesterol esters, which form lipid droplets, the distinctive features of foam cells. Therefore, to further confirm the proposed mechanism through which CLA inhibits foam cell formation, intracellular cholesterol content was analysed. c-9,t-11-CLA and CLA blend, significantly decreased the levels of both free and esterified cholesterol, confirming their specificity in atheroprotection, and reduced ox-LDL uptake, preventing intracellular accumulation of esterified cholesterol, whilst simultaneously, inducing free cholesterol efflux. The net effect of CLA, which primes the macrophages towards an MΦ2 phenotype prior to foam cell challenge, is altering cholesterol trafficking and lipid storage. Based on the data presented, it is feasible to suggest that CLA induces the macrophage to adopt an an anti-inflammatory phenotype which limits foam cell formation. To further address the inflammatory profile of CLA primed macrophages, the effect of CLA on cytokine generation was investigated.
The role of cytokine microenvironment on cholesterol metabolism has been extensively studied, playing a fundamental role in the priming of MΦ1/MΦ2 macrophage subtypes [
41]. Therefore, macrophage generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p70, INF-γ and TNF-α were quantified, following CLA treatment of HPBMC-derived macrophages. Overall, in both macrophage and foam cells, the generation of most of the pro-inflammatory cytokines was prevented by CLA
via a PPARγ-dependent mechanism. In general, the CLA conferred a “resolving” macrophage phenotype [
11]. Moreover, it has been shown that IL-10 prevents pro-inflammatory cytokine production by activated macrophages, as part of its “deactivation” programme [
58]. Supporting this is the observation that IL-10 production has been shown to be predominantly found in CD14
low/CD16
high or “anti-inflammatory” monocytes [
59]. Indeed our recent work demonstrated that IL-10 signalling pathway was modified during CLA-induced regression in murine model [
17]. In keeping with this, we show that the atheroprotective isomer
c-9,
t-11-CLA increases macrophage and foam cell IL-10 production. However, this is not a PPARγ-mediated effect, as TROG actually decreases IL-10 generation in HBPMC-derived macrophage and has no effect in foam cells. Similarly, it is also unlikely, that this anti-inflammatory effect is due to an LXRα activation, as it has been shown that the LXRα agonist, T1317, does not increase levels of IL-10 in CD4-positive T cells [
60]. Further studies are needed to investigate the exact mechanism of action of the CLA atheroprotective effect on the anti-inflammatory cytokine generation, which will likely identify additional PPARγ/LXRα-independent pathways.
Among the pro-inflammatory cytokine panel analysed, INF-γ was the only one which was decreased in both macrophage and foam cells by the CLA blend, strongly suggesting a PPARγ-dependent mechanism regulating the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators. This hypothesis is supported by a study where the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 reversed the decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 and increased levels of the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF-β in M2-polarized THP-1 macrophages [
61]. It has been extensively shown that INF-γ increases the expression of the scavenger receptor SRA-1, in both THP-1- and HBPMC-derived macrophages [
62], and that DNA binding activity is most likely responsible for the IFN-γ-dependent expression of SRA-1. In addition, INF-γ decreases
ABCA-1 expression in murine peritoneal macrophages [
63], decreasing cholesterol efflux, through pathways that include the upregulation of ACAT and the downregulation of efflux proteins. Based on these findings, IFN-γ can shift the equilibrium between macrophages and foam cells and, thus, impact the progression of an atherosclerotic lesion [
64]. Moreover, it has been shown that LXRα activation also inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression. In human lymphocytes the LXRα agonist, T1317 decreased INF-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 levels [
60]. This is in keeping with our data, which shows that CLA mediates its effect
via both a PPARγ and LXRα dependent mechanisms and decreases macrophage and foam cell generation of IFN-γ.