PI3Kß Plays a Key Role in Apolipoprotein A-I-Induced Endothelial Cell Proliferation Through Activation of the Ecto-F1-ATPase/P2Y1 Receptors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: High-density lipoproteins (HDL) exert multiple cardioprotective functions on the arterial wall, including the promotion of endothelial cell survival and proliferation. Among mechanism contributing to endothelial protection, it has been reported that apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major protein in HDL, binds and activates the endothelial ecto-F1-ATPase receptor. This generates extracellular ADP, which in turn promotes endothelial cell survival. In this study we aimed to further investigate the signaling pathway involved downstream of apoA-I-induced ecto-F1-ATPase activation. METHODS: In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), pharmacological and gene silencing approaches were used to study pathways involved downstream ecto-F1-ATPase activation by apoA-I. RESULTS: ApoA-I and HDL both induced Akt phosphorylation. F1-ATPase inhibitors such as inhibitory factor 1 and oligomycin completely blocked apoA-I-induced Akt phosphorylaton and significantly blocked HDL-induced phosphorylation, indicating that this signaling pathway is dependent on ecto-F1-ATPase activation by apoA-I. Further, we were able to specify roles for the P2Y1-ADPreceptor and the PI3Kß isoform in this pathway since pharmacological inhibition and silencing of these proteins dramatically inhibited apoA-I-induced Akt phosphorylation and cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: Altogether, these data highlight a key role of the P2Y1/PI3Kß axis in endothelial cell proliferation downstream of ecto-F1-ATPase activation by apoA-I. Pharmacological targeting of this pathway could represent a promising approach to enhance vascular endothelial protection.

Elastin-derived peptides potentiate atherosclerosis through the immune Neu1-PI3Kγ pathway.

AIMS: Elastin is degraded during vascular ageing and its products, elastin-derived peptides (EP), are present in the human blood circulation. EP binds to the elastin receptor complex (ERC) at the cell surface, composed of elastin-binding protein (EBP), a cathepsin A and a neuraminidase 1. Some in vitro functions have clearly been attributed to this binding, but the in vivo implications for arterial diseases have never been clearly investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we demonstrate that chronic doses of EP injected into mouse models of atherosclerosis increase atherosclerotic plaque size formation. Similar effects were observed following an injection of a VGVAPG peptide, suggesting that the ERC mediates these effects. The absence of phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) in bone marrow-derived cells prevented EP-induced atherosclerosis development, demonstrating that PI3Kγ drive EP-induced arterial lesions. Accordingly, in vitro studies showed that PI3Kγ was required for EP-induced monocyte migration and ROS production and that this effect was dependent upon neuraminidase activity. Finally, we showed that degradation of elastic lamellae in LDLR(-/-) mice fed an atherogenic diet correlated with atherosclerotic plaque formation. At the same time, the absence of the cathepsin A-neuraminidase 1 complex in cells of the haematopoietic lineage abolished atheroma plaque size progression and decreased leucocytes infiltration, clearly demonstrating the role of this complex in atherogenesis and suggesting the involvement of endogenous EP. CONCLUSION: Altogether, this work identifies EP as an enhancer of atherogenesis and defines the Neuraminidase 1/PI3Kγ signalling pathway as a key mediator of this function in vitro and in vivo.