M1 and M2 macrophage proteolytic and angiogenic profile analysis in atherosclerotic patients reveals a distinctive profile in type 2 diabetes

Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2015 Jul;12(4):279-89. doi: 10.1177/1479164115582351. Epub 2015 May 11.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate atherosclerotic mediators' expression levels in M1 and M2 macrophages and to focus on the influence of diabetes on M1/M2 profiles. Macrophages from 36 atherosclerotic patients (19 diabetics and 17 non-diabetics) were cultured with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or IL-4 to induce M1 or M2 phenotype, respectively. The atherosclerotic mediators' expression was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that M1 and M2 macrophages differentially expressed mediators involved in proteolysis and angiogenesis processes. The proteolytic balance (matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), MMP-9/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and MMP-9/tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) ratios) was higher in M1 versus M2, whereas M2 macrophages presented higher angiogenesis properties (increased vascular endothelial growth factor/TFPI-2 and tissue factor/TFPI-2 ratios). Moreover, M1 macrophages from diabetics displayed more important proangiogenic and proteolytic activities than non-diabetics. This study reveals that M1 and M2 macrophages could differentially modulate major atherosclerosis-related pathological processes. Moreover, M1 macrophages from diabetics display a deleterious phenotype that could explain the higher plaque vulnerability observed in these subjects.

Keywords: Macrophage polarization; angiogenesis; atherosclerosis; diabetes; plaque vulnerability; proteolysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / complications
  • Atherosclerosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics*
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / complications
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Artery Disease / complications
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Artery Disease / genetics*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics*
  • Factor XIII / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Interleukin-1beta / genetics
  • Lectins, C-Type / genetics
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mannose Receptor
  • Mannose-Binding Lectins / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics*
  • Orexin Receptors
  • Phenotype
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / genetics
  • Prospective Studies
  • Proteolysis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • CD200R1 protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Glycoproteins
  • IL10 protein, human
  • IL1B protein, human
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Mannose Receptor
  • Mannose-Binding Lectins
  • Orexin Receptors
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing
  • SERPINE1 protein, human
  • STAB1 protein, human
  • TIMP1 protein, human
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • tissue-factor-pathway inhibitor 2
  • factor XIII subunit A
  • Interleukin-10
  • Factor XIII
  • MMP9 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9