TRPM2 deficiency protects against atherosclerosis by inhibiting TRPM2-CD36 inflammatory axis in macrophages

ABSTRACT Atherosclerosis is the major cause of ischemic heart diseases and ischemic brain stroke, which are the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The central pathological features of atherosclerosis include macrophage infiltration and foam cell formation. However, the detailed mechanisms regulating these two processes remain unclear. Here we show that oxidative stress-activated Ca 2+ -permeable TRPM2 plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Trpm2 deletion produces a potent protective effect against atherosclerosis in ApoE -/- mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD), as evidenced by reduced atherosclerotic plaque burden, decreased macrophage load and suppressed inflammasome activation in the vessel wall. Moreover, we show that Trpm2 deletion or inhibition reduces oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) uptake by macrophages, suppresses macrophage infiltration induced by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1), and prevents the impairment of macrophage emigration caused by oxLDL. Intriguingly, we uncover that activation of CD36, an oxLDL receptor, can promote the activation of TRPM2, and vice versa, the CD36-mediated inflammatory cascade in atherosclerosis is dependent on TRPM2. In transfected HEK293T cells, CD36 ligands oxLDL and TSP1 induce TRPM2 activation in a CD36-dependent manner. Deleting Trpm2 or inhibiting TRPM2 activity in cultured macrophages suppresses the CD36 signaling cascade induced by oxLDL and TSP1. Our studies establish TRPM2-CD36 axis as a new mechanism underlying atherogenesis, and suggest TRPM2 as an effective therapeutic target for atherosclerosis. HIGHLIGHTS Trpm2 deletion protects against atherosclerosis in ApoE -/- mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) Trpm2 deficiency reduces atherosclerotic lesions by minimizing foam cell formation, inhibiting macrophage infiltration and preserving macrophage emigration TRPM2 activation is required for CD36-induced oxLDL uptake and subsequent inflammatory responses The ligands of CD36, oxLDL and TSP1, activate TRPM2, thereby perpetuating TRPM2-CD36 inflammatory cycle in atherogenesis cascade Our data establish TRPM2-CD36 axis as a new atherogenesis mechanism and TRPM2 as a novel therapeutic target for atherosclerosis TRPM2-mediated Ca 2+ signal is essential for CD36 induced oxLDL uptake and atherosclerosis in ApoE -/- mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). The activation of CD36 and TRPM2 form a positive feedback loop in atherogenesis.