Urochordate Histoincompatible Interactions Activate Vertebrate-Like Coagulation System Components

The colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri expresses a unique allorecognition system. When two histoincompatible Botryllus colonies come into direct contact, they develop an inflammatory-like rejection response. A surprising high number of vertebrates' coagulation genes and coagulation-related domains were disclosed in a cDNA library of differentially expressed sequence tags (ESTs), prepared for this allorejection process. Serine proteases, especially from the trypsin family, were highly represented among Botryllus library ortholgues and its “molecular function” gene ontology analysis. These, together with the built-up clot-like lesions in the interaction area, led us to further test whether a vertebrate-like clotting system participates in Botryllus innate immunity. Three morphologically distinct clot types (points of rejection; POR) were followed. We demonstrated the specific expression of nine coagulation orthologue transcripts in Botryllus rejection processes and effects of the anti-coagulant heparin on POR formation and heartbeats. In situ hybridization of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor orthologues elucidated enhanced expression patterns specific to histoincompatible reactions as well as common expressions not augmented by innate immunity. Immunohistochemistry for fibrinogen revealed, in naïve and immune challenged colonies alike, specific antibody binding to a small population of Botryllus compartment cells. Altogether, molecular, physiological and morphological outcomes suggest the involvement of vertebrates-like coagulation elements in urochordate immunity, not assigned with vasculature injury

Lack of myeloid Fatp1 increases atherosclerotic lesion size in Ldlr −/− mice

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Altered metabolism is an important regulator of macrophage (MΦ) phenotype, which contributes to inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Broadly, pro-inflammatory, classically-activated MΦs (CAM) are glycolytic while alternatively-activated MΦs (AAM) oxidize fatty acids, although overlap exists. We previously demonstrated that MΦ fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1, Slc27a1) was necessary to maintain the oxidative and anti-inflammatory AAM phenotype in vivo in a model of diet-induced obesity. The aim of this study was to examine how MΦ metabolic reprogramming through FATP1 ablation affects the process of atherogenesis. We hypothesized that FATP1 limits MΦ-mediated inflammation during atherogenesis. Thus, mice lacking MΦ Fatp1 would display elevated formation of atherosclerotic lesions in a mouse model lacking the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (Ldlr-/-). METHODS:We transplanted bone marrow collected from Fatp1+/+ or Fatp1-/- mice into Ldlr-/- mice and fed chimeric mice a Western diet for 12 weeks. Body weight, blood glucose, and plasma lipids were measured. Aortic sinus and aorta lesions were quantified. Atherosclerotic plaque composition, oxidative stress, and inflammation were analyzed histologically. RESULTS:Compared to Fatp1+/+Ldlr-/- mice, Fatp1-/-Ldlr-/- mice exhibited significantly larger lesion area and elevated oxidative stress and inflammation in the atherosclerotic plaque. Macrophage and smooth muscle cell content did not differ by Fatp1 genotype. There were no significant systemic alterations in LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol, or triacylglyceride, suggesting that the effect was local to the cells of the vessel microenvironment in a Fatp1-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS:MΦ Fatp1 limits atherogenesis and may be a viable target to metabolically reprogram MΦs