Probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophages
Abstract Foamy macrophages are pivotal contributors to the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques, posing a substantial threat to human health. Presently, there is no pharmaceutical intervention available to effectively eliminate foamy macrophages. In this study, we demonstrate that...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nanobiotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03360-8 |
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| author | Boping Jing Yu Gao Lufang Wang Feng Guo Dawei Jiang Saimei Qin Mengrong He Ying Bai Rui An Mingxing Xie Li Zhang |
| author_facet | Boping Jing Yu Gao Lufang Wang Feng Guo Dawei Jiang Saimei Qin Mengrong He Ying Bai Rui An Mingxing Xie Li Zhang |
| author_sort | Boping Jing |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Foamy macrophages are pivotal contributors to the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques, posing a substantial threat to human health. Presently, there is no pharmaceutical intervention available to effectively eliminate foamy macrophages. In this study, we demonstrate that probiotic membrane vesicles (MVs) can induce atherosclerotic plaque regression by modulating foamy macrophages. MVs isolated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus exhibited a specific uptake by foamy macrophages. Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, aortic oil red O staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining showed reductions in the plaque area following MVs treatment. Mechanistically, bioinformatics analysis provided insights into how MVs exert their effects, revealing that they promote lipid efflux and macrophage polarization. Notably, MVs treatment upregulated NR1H3, which in turn increased ABCA1 expression, facilitating lipid efflux from foamy macrophages. Moreover, MVs shifted macrophage polarization from a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, highlighting their potential to create a more protective environment against plaque progression. This study is significant as it introduces MVs as a novel therapeutic platform for the targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory agents to atherosclerotic sites. By specifically modulating macrophage function, MVs hold considerable potential for the treatment of atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases, addressing an unmet need in current therapeutic strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d2f985058d734e088e4c9e2987c85cea |
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| issn | 1477-3155 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Journal of Nanobiotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d2f985058d734e088e4c9e2987c85cea2025-08-20T02:17:56ZengBMCJournal of Nanobiotechnology1477-31552025-04-0123111610.1186/s12951-025-03360-8Probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophagesBoping Jing0Yu Gao1Lufang Wang2Feng Guo3Dawei Jiang4Saimei Qin5Mengrong He6Ying Bai7Rui An8Mingxing Xie9Li Zhang10Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyHubei Key Laboratory of Molecular ImagingDepartment of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyHubei Key Laboratory of Molecular ImagingDepartment of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyHubei Key Laboratory of Molecular ImagingDepartment of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Foamy macrophages are pivotal contributors to the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques, posing a substantial threat to human health. Presently, there is no pharmaceutical intervention available to effectively eliminate foamy macrophages. In this study, we demonstrate that probiotic membrane vesicles (MVs) can induce atherosclerotic plaque regression by modulating foamy macrophages. MVs isolated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus exhibited a specific uptake by foamy macrophages. Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, aortic oil red O staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining showed reductions in the plaque area following MVs treatment. Mechanistically, bioinformatics analysis provided insights into how MVs exert their effects, revealing that they promote lipid efflux and macrophage polarization. Notably, MVs treatment upregulated NR1H3, which in turn increased ABCA1 expression, facilitating lipid efflux from foamy macrophages. Moreover, MVs shifted macrophage polarization from a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, highlighting their potential to create a more protective environment against plaque progression. This study is significant as it introduces MVs as a novel therapeutic platform for the targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory agents to atherosclerotic sites. By specifically modulating macrophage function, MVs hold considerable potential for the treatment of atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases, addressing an unmet need in current therapeutic strategies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03360-8Probiotic membrane vesiclesFoamy macrophagesLipid metabolismAtherosclerosis |
| spellingShingle | Boping Jing Yu Gao Lufang Wang Feng Guo Dawei Jiang Saimei Qin Mengrong He Ying Bai Rui An Mingxing Xie Li Zhang Probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophages Journal of Nanobiotechnology Probiotic membrane vesicles Foamy macrophages Lipid metabolism Atherosclerosis |
| title | Probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophages |
| title_full | Probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophages |
| title_fullStr | Probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophages |
| title_short | Probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophages |
| title_sort | probiotic membrane vesicles ameliorate atherosclerotic plaques by promoting lipid efflux and polarization of foamy macrophages |
| topic | Probiotic membrane vesicles Foamy macrophages Lipid metabolism Atherosclerosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03360-8 |
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