Inflammation and lipid accumulation in the vascular wall constitute critical events in initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease, manifested in myocardial infarction and stroke in more than a half of the US population. Activated endothelial cells (EC) secrete chemokines and express adhesion molecules to recruit leukocytes to the vascular wall. Oxidized LDL and dysfunctional HDL play a major role in EC-mediated inflammation, whereas functional HDL preserves the EC integrity and prevents inflammatory responses. One of the major mechanisms by which HDL exerts its protective function is cholesterol efflux from the plasma membrane of EC. We discovered that apoA-I binding protein (AIBP) significantly improves HDL function by accelerating cholesterol efflux from EC. AIBP is a secreted protein and its effect on EC is paracrine and non-cell autonomous. These findings open the possibility of using AIBP or AIBP-derived peptides as a therapy to improve the cholesterol efflux function of HDL and thereby prevent and/or reverse vascular pathology. Here we propose to test the hypothesis that AIBP reduces EC inflammatory responses via modulation of cholesterol efflux and lipid rafts. We will test this hypothesis in cellular models as well as in aorta explants, by measuring expression of cytokines and adhesion molecules, probing relevant signaling pathways, detecting ROS, apoptosis and autophagy, and assessing LDL transcytosis and monocyte adhesion. Further, we will determine effects of systemic and tissue-specific AIBP deficiency on endothelial function. We have developed Aibp LoxP and Aibp knockout mice, which are viable and fertile. AIBP expression has been detected in macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of mouse atherosclerotic lesions. Thus, we propose that AIBP secreted by macrophages and/or VSMC protects aortic EC and that deletion of Aibp in these cells will lead to exacerbated EC inflammatory responses and increased atherosclerosis burden. We also hypothesize that, conversely, raising AIBP levels will improve endothelial function and reduce inflammation. The hypothesis will be tested in vivo with mouse and zebrafish animal models and ex vivo with human plasma samples obtained from patients with dyslipidemia and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD). In a hypercholesterolemic zebrafish model, we expect that conditional expression of Aibp will reduce vascular lipid accumulation, foam cell formation, membrane lipid order in EC, and vascular permeability. In a hypercholesterolemic mouse model, we expect that infusion of recombinant AIBP, alone or in combination with apoA-I, will reduce EC inflammation and atherosclerosis. In addition, human plasma and HDL isolated from CVD patients will be supplemented with recombinant AIBP and tested for their effect on monocyte adhesion to EC. We expect that AIBP will improve protective properties of dysfunctional HDL. Results of these experiments, if positive, will facilitate future development of AIBP-based therapeutic applications.
Maintaining normal function of endothelial cells, which cover the surface of the vascular wall, is important for prevention and reversal of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, the major cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. We have discovered that apoA-I binding protein (AIBP) helps remove cholesterol from endothelial cells and restrict their inflammatory activation. This project will test the hypothesis that raisin AIBP levels will diminish endothelial dysfunction during development of atherosclerosis, the approach that may results in a new therapy for cardiovascular disease.
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