ASIC1/RIP1 accelerates atherosclerosis via disrupting lipophagy

Yuan-Mei Wang; Huang Tang; Ya-Jie Tang; Juan Liu; Yu-Fang Yin; Ya-Ling Tang; Yao-Guang Feng; Hong-Feng Gu

doi:10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.004

ASIC1/RIP1 accelerates atherosclerosis via disrupting lipophagy

J Adv Res. 2023 Nov 4:S2090-1232(23)00327-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.004. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yuan-Mei Wang¹, Huang Tang², Ya-Jie Tang³, Juan Liu⁴, Yu-Fang Yin⁵, Ya-Ling Tang⁶, Yao-Guang Feng⁷, Hong-Feng Gu⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology & Institute of Neuroscience, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
² Lhasa Guangsheng Hospital, 850000 Tibet, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Department of Physiology & Institute of Neuroscience, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
⁵ Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University Springfield, Illinois, United States.
⁶ Department of Physiology & Institute of Neuroscience, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: tangyaling7508@163.com.
⁷ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: fengyaog@hotmail.com.
⁸ Department of Physiology & Institute of Neuroscience, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: ghf513@usc.edu.cn.

PMID: 37931656
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.004

Abstract

Introduction: Atherosclerosis, a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, remains a significant health concern worldwide. While previous research has shown that acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1) impedes macrophage cholesterol efflux, its precise role in atherogenesis and the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the role of ASIC1 in atherosclerosis and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: First, data from a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) database were used to explore the relationships between ASIC1 differential expression and lipophagy in human atherosclerotic lesions. Finally, we validated the role of ASIC1/RIP1 signaling in lipophagy in vivo (human and mice) and in vitro (RAW264.7 and HTP-1 cells).

Result: Our results demonstrated a significant increase in ASIC1 protein levels within CD68+ macrophages in both human aortic lesions and AopE^-/- mouse lesion areas compared to nonlesion regions. Concurrently, there was a notable decrease in lipophagy, a crucial process for lipid metabolism. In vitro assays further elucidated that ASIC1 interaction with RIP1 (receptor-interacting protein 1) promoted the phosphorylation of RIP1 at serine 166 and transcription factor EB (TFEB) at serine 142, leading to disrupted lipophagy and increased lipid accumulation. Intriguingly, all these events were reversed upon ASIC1 deficiency and RIP1 inhibition. Furthermore, in ApoE^-/- mouse models of atherosclerosis, silencing ASIC1 expression or inhibiting RIP1 activation not only significantly attenuated atherogenesis but also restored TFEB-mediated lipophagy in aortic tissues. This was evidenced by reduced TFEB Ser-142 phosphorylation, decreased LC3II and LAMP1 protein expression, increased numbers of lipophagosomes, and a decrease in lipid droplets.

Conclusion: Our findings unveil the critical role of macrophage ASIC1 in interacting with RIP1 to inhibit lipophagy, thereby promoting atherogenesis. Targeting ASIC1 represents a promising therapeutic avenue for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Keywords: ASIC1; Atherosclerosis; Lipid accumulation; Lipophagy; RIP1.