LKB1 Regulates Vascular Macrophage Functions in Atherosclerosis

Xuewen Wang; Ziwei Liang; Hong Xiang; Yanqiu Li; Shuhua Chen; Hongwei Lu

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.810224

LKB1 Regulates Vascular Macrophage Functions in Atherosclerosis

Front Pharmacol. 2021 Dec 15:12:810224. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.810224. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Xuewen Wang^{1

2}, Ziwei Liang³, Hong Xiang⁴, Yanqiu Li¹, Shuhua Chen⁵, Hongwei Lu^{1

2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
³ Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yueyang people's Hospital, Yueyang, China.
⁴ Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences of Central South University, Changsha, China.

Abstract

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is known to shape the regulation of macrophage function by participating in multiple processes including cell metabolism, growth, and polarization. However, whether LKB1 also affects the functional plasticity of macrophages in atherosclerosis has not attracted much attention. Abnormal macrophage function is a pathophysiological hallmark of atherosclerosis, characterized by the formation of foam cells and the maintenance of vascular inflammation. Mounting evidence supports that LKB1 plays a vital role in the regulation of macrophage function in atherosclerosis, including affecting lipid metabolism reprogramming, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and autophagy in macrophages. Thus, decreased expression of LKB1 in atherosclerosis aggravates vascular injury by inducing excessive lipid deposition in macrophages and the formation of foam cells. To systematically understand the role and potential mechanism of LKB1 in regulating macrophage functions in atherosclerosis, this review summarizes the relevant data in this regard, hoping to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Keywords: AMPK; atherosclerosis; inflammatory; liver kinase B1; macrophage function.

Publication types

Review