Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation

Abstract The development of unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques is associated with the induction of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via the activation of diverse inflammatory mediators in the circulating bloodstream. However, the underlying mechanisms through which NETs influence the micr...

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Main Authors: Yu Cao, Minghui Chen, Xinyu Jiao, Shuijie Li, Dong Wang, Yongxuan Zhan, Jiaju Li, Zhongfei Hao, Qingbin Li, Yang Liu, Yan Feng, Ruiyan Li, Hongjun Wang, Mingli Liu, Qiang Fu, Yongli Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2024-08-01
Series:Experimental and Molecular Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-024-01281-4
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author Yu Cao
Minghui Chen
Xinyu Jiao
Shuijie Li
Dong Wang
Yongxuan Zhan
Jiaju Li
Zhongfei Hao
Qingbin Li
Yang Liu
Yan Feng
Ruiyan Li
Hongjun Wang
Mingli Liu
Qiang Fu
Yongli Li
author_facet Yu Cao
Minghui Chen
Xinyu Jiao
Shuijie Li
Dong Wang
Yongxuan Zhan
Jiaju Li
Zhongfei Hao
Qingbin Li
Yang Liu
Yan Feng
Ruiyan Li
Hongjun Wang
Mingli Liu
Qiang Fu
Yongli Li
author_sort Yu Cao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The development of unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques is associated with the induction of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via the activation of diverse inflammatory mediators in the circulating bloodstream. However, the underlying mechanisms through which NETs influence the microenvironment of atherosclerotic plaques and contribute to the development of unstable carotid plaques remain largely elusive. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of myeloid differentiation protein 1 (MD-1, LY86)-induced NETs underlying the crosstalk between unstable plaque formation and the plaque microenvironment. We employed bioinformatics analysis to identify key genes associated with carotid-unstable plaque, followed by comprehensive validation using various experimental approaches on tissue specimens and plasma samples classified based on pathological characteristics. Patients with carotid-unstable plaques exhibited elevated plasma concentrations of MD-1 (LY86), while patients with stable plaques demonstrated comparatively lower levels. Furthermore, soluble MD-1 was found to induce the formation of NETs through activation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. The proliferative and immature vascularization effects of NETs on endothelial cells, as well as their inhibitory impact on cell migration, are directly correlated with the concentration of NETs. Additionally, NETs were found to activate the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby upregulating ICAM1, VCAM1, MMP14, VEGFA, and IL6 expression in both Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and HAECs. Subsequently, a significant increase in intraplaque neovascularization by NETs results in poor carotid plaque stability, and NETs in turn stimulate macrophages to produce more MD-1, generating a harmful positive feedback loop. Our findings suggest that soluble MD-1 in the bloodstream triggers the production of NETs through activation of the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and further indicate NETs mediate a crosstalk between the microenvironment of the carotid plaque and the neovascularization of the intraplaque region. Inhibiting NETs formation or MD-1 secretion may represent a promising strategy to effectively suppress the development of unstable carotid plaques.
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spelling doaj-art-5de4abda976d48ab88400d89fbf3df872025-08-20T04:01:47ZengNature Publishing GroupExperimental and Molecular Medicine2092-64132024-08-015681717173510.1038/s12276-024-01281-4Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formationYu Cao0Minghui Chen1Xinyu Jiao2Shuijie Li3Dong Wang4Yongxuan Zhan5Jiaju Li6Zhongfei Hao7Qingbin Li8Yang Liu9Yan Feng10Ruiyan Li11Hongjun Wang12Mingli Liu13Qiang Fu14Yongli Li15Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical UniversityScientific Research Centre, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Chinese Formulae, Heilongjiang University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityAbstract The development of unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques is associated with the induction of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via the activation of diverse inflammatory mediators in the circulating bloodstream. However, the underlying mechanisms through which NETs influence the microenvironment of atherosclerotic plaques and contribute to the development of unstable carotid plaques remain largely elusive. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of myeloid differentiation protein 1 (MD-1, LY86)-induced NETs underlying the crosstalk between unstable plaque formation and the plaque microenvironment. We employed bioinformatics analysis to identify key genes associated with carotid-unstable plaque, followed by comprehensive validation using various experimental approaches on tissue specimens and plasma samples classified based on pathological characteristics. Patients with carotid-unstable plaques exhibited elevated plasma concentrations of MD-1 (LY86), while patients with stable plaques demonstrated comparatively lower levels. Furthermore, soluble MD-1 was found to induce the formation of NETs through activation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. The proliferative and immature vascularization effects of NETs on endothelial cells, as well as their inhibitory impact on cell migration, are directly correlated with the concentration of NETs. Additionally, NETs were found to activate the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby upregulating ICAM1, VCAM1, MMP14, VEGFA, and IL6 expression in both Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and HAECs. Subsequently, a significant increase in intraplaque neovascularization by NETs results in poor carotid plaque stability, and NETs in turn stimulate macrophages to produce more MD-1, generating a harmful positive feedback loop. Our findings suggest that soluble MD-1 in the bloodstream triggers the production of NETs through activation of the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and further indicate NETs mediate a crosstalk between the microenvironment of the carotid plaque and the neovascularization of the intraplaque region. Inhibiting NETs formation or MD-1 secretion may represent a promising strategy to effectively suppress the development of unstable carotid plaques.https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-024-01281-4
spellingShingle Yu Cao
Minghui Chen
Xinyu Jiao
Shuijie Li
Dong Wang
Yongxuan Zhan
Jiaju Li
Zhongfei Hao
Qingbin Li
Yang Liu
Yan Feng
Ruiyan Li
Hongjun Wang
Mingli Liu
Qiang Fu
Yongli Li
Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation
Experimental and Molecular Medicine
title Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation
title_full Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation
title_fullStr Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation
title_full_unstemmed Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation
title_short Neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation
title_sort neutrophil extracellular traps mediate the crosstalk between plaque microenvironment and unstable carotid plaque formation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-024-01281-4
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