Lack of RAC1 in macrophages protects against atherosclerosis.

The Rho GTPase RAC1 is an important regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics, but the role of macrophage-specific RAC1 has not been explored during atherogenesis. We analyzed RAC1 expression in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques using immunofluorescence and found higher macrophage RAC1 expression in advanced plaques compared with intermediate human atherosclerotic plaques. We then produced mice with Rac1-deficient macrophages by breeding conditional floxed Rac1 mice (Rac1fl/fl) with mice expressing Cre from the macrophage-specific lysosome M promoter (LC). Atherosclerosis was studied in vivo by infecting Rac1fl/fl and Rac1fl/fl/LC mice with AdPCSK9 (adenoviral vector overexpressing proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9). Rac1fl/fl/LC macrophages secreted lower levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and exhibited reduced foam cell formation and lipid uptake. The deficiency of Rac1 in macrophages reduced the size of aortic atherosclerotic plaques in AdPCSK9-infected Rac1fl/fl/LC mice. Compare with controls, intima/media ratios, the size of necrotic cores, and numbers of CD68-positive macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques were reduced in Rac1-deficient mice. Moreover, we found that RAC1 interacts with actin-binding filamin A. Macrophages expressed increased RAC1 levels in advanced human atherosclerosis. Genetic inactivation of RAC1 impaired macrophage function and reduced atherosclerosis in mice, suggesting that drugs targeting RAC1 may be useful in the treatment of atherosclerosis

Targeting filamin A reduces macrophage activity and atherosclerosis

Background: The actin-binding protein FLNA (filamin A) regulates signal transduction important for cell locomotion, but the role of macrophage-specific FLNA during atherogenesis has not been explored. Methods: We analyzed FLNA expression in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques by immunofluorescence. We also produced mice with Flna-deficient macrophages by breeding conditional Flna-knockout mice (Flna(o/fl)) with mice expressing Cre from the macrophage-specific lysosome M promoter (LC). Atherosclerosis in vivo was studied by transplanting bone marrow from male Flna(o/fl)/LC mice to atherogenic low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr(-/-)) mice; and by infecting Flna(o/fl) and Flna(o/fl)/LC mice with AdPCSK9 (adenoviral vector overexpressing proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9). Furthermore, C57BL/6 mice were infected with AdPCSK9 and then treated with the calpain inhibitor calpeptin to inhibit FLNA cleavage. Results: We found that macrophage FLNA expression was higher in advanced than in intermediate human atherosclerotic plaques. Flna(o/fl)/LC macrophages proliferated and migrated less than controls; expressed lower levels of phosphorylated AKT and ERK1/2; exhibited reduced foam cell formation and lipid uptake; and excreted more lipids. The deficiency of Flna in macrophages markedly reduced the size of aortic atherosclerotic plaques in both Ldlr(-/-BMT:Flnao/fl/LC) and AdPCSK9-infected Flna(o/fl)/LC mice. Intima/media ratios and numbers of CD68-positive macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques were lower in Flna-deficient mice than in control mice. Moreover, we found that STAT3 interacts with a calpain-cleaved carboxyl-terminal fragment of FLNA. Inhibiting calpain-mediated FLNA cleavage with calpeptin in macrophages reduced nuclear levels of phosphorylated STAT3, interleukin 6 secretion, foam cell formation, and lipid uptake. Finally, calpeptin treatment reduced the size of atherosclerotic plaques in C57BL/6 mice infected with AdPCSK9. Conclusions: Genetic inactivation of Flna and chemical inhibition of calpain-dependent cleavage of FLNA impaired macrophage signaling and function, and reduced atherosclerosis in mice, suggesting that drugs targeting FLNA may be useful in the treatment of atherosclerosis

Supply chain opportunities at the bottom of the pyramid

With fast-moving-consumer-goods and other companies in emerging economies like India seeking growth, the people in the so-called bottom of the pyramid (BoP) are potential consumers. However, some leading companies as well as entrepreneurs are looking for and finding suppliers, producers, distributors, and retailers in the BoP segment. However, these opportunities are not without challenges when it comes to building and operating supply chains that interact with the BoP segment. For supply chain scholars, these supply chains and how they interact with the BoP segment present many opportunities for research. This paper outlines such research and business opportunities

Control of the innate immune response by the mevalonate pathway

Deficiency of mevalonate kinase (MVK) causes systemic inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms linking the mevalonate pathway to inflammation remain obscure. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), a non-sterol intermediate of the mevalonate pathway, is the substrate for protein geranylgeranylation, protein post-translational modification catalyzed by protein geranylgeranyl transferase I (GGTase I). Pyrin is an innate immune sensor that forms an active inflammasome in response to bacterial toxins. Mutations in MEFV (encoding human PYRIN) cause autoinflammatory Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) syndrome. Here, we show that protein geranylgeranylation enables Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase PI(3)K) activation by promoting the interaction between the small GTPase Kras and the PI(3)K catalytic subunit p110δ. Macrophages deficient for GGTase I or p110δ exhibited constitutive interleukin-1β release that was MEFV-dependent, but NLRP3-, AIM2- and NLRC4- inflammasome independent. In the absence of protein geranylgeranylation, compromised PI(3)K activity allows for an unchecked TLR-induced inflammatory responses and constitutive activation of the Pyrin inflammasome