Loss of one copy of Zfp148 reduces lesional macrophage proliferation and atherosclerosis in mice by activating p53

Volkan I. Sayin, Omar M. Khan, Lara E. Pehlivanoglu, Anna Staffas, Mohamed X. Ibrahim, Annika Asplund, Pia Ågren, Anna Nilton, Göran Bergström, Martin O. Bergo, Jan Borén, Per Lindahl*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Rationale: Cell proliferation and cell cycle control mechanisms are thought to play central roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The transcription factor Zinc finger protein 148 (Zfp148) was shown recently to maintain cell proliferation under oxidative conditions by suppressing p53, a checkpoint protein that arrests proliferation in response to various stressors. It is established that inactivation of p53 accelerates atherosclerosis, but whether increased p53 activation confers protection against the disease remains to be determined. Objective: We aimed to test the hypothesis that Zfp148 deficiency reduces atherosclerosis by unleashing p53 activity. Methods and Results: Mice harboring a gene-trap mutation in the Zfp148 locus (Zfp148gt/+) were bred onto the apolipoprotein E (Apoe)-/- genetic background and fed a high-fat or chow diet. Loss of 1 copy of Zfp148 markedly reduced atherosclerosis without affecting lipid metabolism. Bone marrow transplantation experiments revealed that the effector cell is of hematopoietic origin. Peritoneal macrophages and atherosclerotic lesions from Zfp148gt/+Apoe-/- mice showed increased levels of phosphorylated p53 compared with controls, and atherosclerotic lesions contained fewer proliferating macrophages. Zfp148gt/+Apoe-/- mice were further crossed with p53-null mice (Trp53-/- [the gene encoding p53]). There was no difference in atherosclerosis between Zfp148gt/+Apoe-/- mice and controls on a Trp53+/- genetic background, and there was no difference in levels of phosphorylated p53 or cell proliferation. Conclusions: Zfp148 deficiency increases p53 activity and protects against atherosclerosis by causing proliferation arrest of lesional macrophages, suggesting that drugs targeting macrophage proliferation may be useful in the treatment of atherosclerosis. (Circ Res. 2014;115:781-789.)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)781-789
Number of pages9
JournalCirculation Research
Volume115
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Cell proliferation
  • Genes
  • Macrophages
  • Mice
  • Mouse
  • Transgenic
  • Zfp148 protein
  • p53

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