ADAMTS-7 Modulates Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation by Degradation of TIMP-1

BACKGROUND: The ADAMTS7 locus was genome-wide significantly associated with coronary artery disease. Lack of the ECM (extracellular matrix) protease ADAMTS-7 (A disintegrin and metalloproteinase-7) was shown to reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation. Here, we sought to identify molecular mechanisms and downstream targets of ADAMTS-7 mediating the risk of atherosclerosis. METHODS: Targets of ADAMTS-7 were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry of atherosclerotic plaques from Apoe −/− and Apoe −/− Adamts7 −/− mice. ECM proteins were identified using solubility profiling. Putative targets were validated using immunofluorescence, in vitro degradation assays, coimmunoprecipitation, and Förster resonance energy transfer–based protein-protein interaction assays. ADAMTS7 expression was measured in fibrous caps of human carotid artery plaques. RESULTS: In humans, ADAMTS7 expression was higher in caps of unstable as compared to stable carotid plaques. Compared to Apoe −/− mice, atherosclerotic aortas of Apoe −/− mice lacking Adamts-7 (Apoe −/− Adamts7 −/− ) contained higher protein levels of Timp-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1). In coimmunoprecipitation experiments, the catalytic domain of ADAMTS-7 bound to TIMP-1, which was degraded in the presence of ADAMTS-7 in vitro. ADAMTS-7 reduced the inhibitory capacity of TIMP-1 at its canonical target MMP-9 (matrix metalloprotease-9). As a downstream mechanism, we investigated collagen content in plaques of Apoe −/− and Apoe −/− Adamts7 −/− mice after a Western diet. Picrosirius red staining of the aortic root revealed less collagen as a readout of higher MMP-9 activity in Apoe −/− as compared to Apoe −/− Adamts7 −/− mice. To facilitate high-throughput screening for ADAMTS-7 inhibitors with the aim of decreasing TIMP-1 degradation, we designed a Förster resonance energy transfer–based assay targeting the ADAMTS-7 catalytic site. CONCLUSIONS: ADAMTS-7, which is induced in unstable atherosclerotic plaques, decreases TIMP-1 stability reducing its inhibitory effect on MMP-9, which is known to promote collagen degradation and is likewise associated with coronary artery disease. Disrupting the interaction of ADAMTS-7 and TIMP-1 might be a strategy to increase collagen content and plaque stability for the reduction of atherosclerosis-related events.