Flagellin-induced NADPH oxidase 4 activation is involved in atherosclerosis

Sci Rep. 2016 May 5:6:25437. doi: 10.1038/srep25437.

Abstract

It is widely accepted that bacterial infection-mediated inflammation facilitates development of atherosclerosis by activating toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling system. We reasoned that NADPH oxidases (Nox), required for TLR-mediated inflammatory response, are involved in atherogenesis. Here, we show that the activation of Nox4 through TLR5 regulates the inflammation of the endothelium and in atherogenesis. Flagellin-induced interaction between the COOH region of Nox4 and the TIR domain of TLR5 led to H2O2 generation, which in turn promoted the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-8, as well as the expression of ICAM-1 in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Knockdown of the Nox4 in HAECs resulted in attenuated expressions of IL-8 and ICAM-1 leading to a reduction in the adhesion and trans-endothelial migration of monocytes. Challenge of recombinant FliC (rFliC) to the ApoE KO mice with high-fat diet (HFD) resulted in significantly increased atherosclerotic plaque sizes compared to the saline-injected mice. However, an injection of rFliC into the Nox4ApoE DKO mice with HFDs failed to generate atherosclerotic plaque, suggesting that Nox4 deficiency resulted in significant protections against rFliC-mediated atherogenesis. We conclude that TLR5-dependent Nox4 activation and subsequent H2O2 generation play critical roles for the development of atherosclerosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta
  • Atherosclerosis / enzymology*
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Flagellin / adverse effects*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NADPH Oxidase 4 / chemistry
  • NADPH Oxidase 4 / genetics
  • NADPH Oxidase 4 / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5 / chemistry
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5 / metabolism*

Substances

  • CXCL8 protein, human
  • ICAM1 protein, human
  • Interleukin-8
  • TLR5 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Flagellin
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • NADPH Oxidase 4
  • NOX4 protein, human