P2Y13 receptor regulates HDL metabolism and atherosclerosis in vivo

PLoS One. 2014 Apr 25;9(4):e95807. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095807. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known to protect against atherosclerosis by promoting the reverse cholesterol transport. A new pathway for the regulation of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) removal involving F1-ATPase and P2Y13 receptor (P2Y13R) was described in vitro, and recently in mice. However, the physiological role of F1-ATPase/P2Y13R pathway in the modulation of vascular pathology i.e. in the development of atherosclerotic plaques is still unknown. We designed a specific novel agonist (CT1007900) of the P2Y13R that caused stimulation of bile acid secretion associated with an increased uptake of HDL-c in the liver after single dosing in mice. Repeated dose administration in mice, for 2 weeks, stimulated the apoA-I synthesis and formation of small HDL particles. Plasma samples from the agonist-treated mice had high efflux capacity for mobilization of cholesterol in vitro compared to placebo group. In apoE-/- mice this agonist induced a decrease of atherosclerotic plaques in aortas and carotids. The specificity of P2Y13R pathway in those mice was assessed using adenovirus encoding P2Y13R-shRNA. These results demonstrate that P2Y13R plays a pivotal role in the HDL metabolism and could also be a useful therapeutic agent to decrease atherosclerosis. In this study, the up-regulation of HDL-c metabolism via activation of the P2Y13R using agonists could promote reverse cholesterol transport and promote inhibition of atherosclerosis progression in mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / drug therapy
  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism*
  • Carotid Arteries / drug effects
  • Carotid Arteries / metabolism
  • Carotid Arteries / pathology
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / metabolism*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Morpholines / pharmacology*
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic / metabolism
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects
  • Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2 / physiology*

Substances

  • 6-(1-(2-dimethylaminopyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)piperidin-4-yl)-2-morpholin-4-yl-pyrimidin-4-ol
  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Morpholines
  • P2ry13 protein, mouse
  • Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists
  • Pyrimidines
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2

Grants and funding

The work was supported by Cerenis Therapeutics. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for all authors, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.