Assessment of ICAM-1 N-glycoforms in mouse and human models of endothelial dysfunction

PLoS One. 2020 Mar 24;15(3):e0230358. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230358. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction is a critical event in vascular inflammation characterized, in part, by elevated surface expression of adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). ICAM-1 is heavily N-glycosylated, and like other surface proteins, it is largely presumed that fully processed, complex N-glycoforms are dominant. However, our recent studies suggest that hypoglycosylated or high mannose (HM)-ICAM-1 N-glycoforms are also expressed on the cell surface during endothelial dysfunction, and have higher affinity for monocyte adhesion and regulate outside-in endothelial signaling by different mechanisms. Whether different ICAM-1 N-glycoforms are expressed in vivo during disease is unknown. In this study, using the proximity ligation assay, we assessed the relative formation of high mannose, hybrid and complex α-2,6-sialyated N-glycoforms of ICAM-1 in human and mouse models of atherosclerosis, as well as in arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) of patients on hemodialysis. Our data demonstrates that ICAM-1 harboring HM or hybrid epitopes as well as ICAM-1 bearing α-2,6-sialylated epitopes are present in human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions. Further, HM-ICAM-1 positively associated with increased macrophage burden in lesions as assessed by CD68 staining, whereas α-2,6-sialylated ICAM-1 did not. Finally, both HM and α-2,6-sialylated ICAM-1 N-glycoforms were present in hemodialysis patients who had AVF maturation failure compared to successful AVF maturation. Collectively, these data provide evidence that HM- ICAM-1 N-glycoforms are present in vivo, and at levels similar to complex α-2,6-sialylated ICAM-1 underscoring the need to better understand their roles in modulating vascular inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Arteries / cytology
  • Arteries / pathology
  • Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / adverse effects
  • Atherosclerosis / immunology
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / immunology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology*
  • Epitopes / analysis
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Epitopes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Glycosylation
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / analysis
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / immunology*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Male
  • Mannose / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout, ApoE
  • Middle Aged
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / analysis*
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • ICAM1 protein, human
  • Icam1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid
  • Mannose