Conversion of M1 Macrophages to Foam Cells: Transcriptome Differences Determined by Sex

• Published in: Biomedicines Vol. 11; no. 2; p. 490
• Main Authors: Nambo-Venegas, Rafael, Palacios-González, Berenice, Mas-Oliva, Jaime, Aurioles-Amozurrutia, Ana Karen, Cruz-Rangel, Armando, Moreno, Abel, Hidalgo-Miranda, Alfredo, Rodríguez-Dorantes, Mauricio, Vadillo-Ortega, Felipe, Xicohtencatl-Cortes, Juan, Ruiz-Olmedo, María Isabel, Reyes-Grajeda, Juan Pablo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.02.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; CD14 antigen; chromosome Y; Coronary vessels; Cytokines; female; Gene expression; Health aspects; Immune system; Inflammation; Interferon; Internalization; LDL internalization; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Lipids; Lipoproteins; Low density lipoprotein; M1 macrophages; Macrophages; Males; Monocytes; Oxidative stress; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Positive selection; sex-related; Software; transcriptional profile; Transcriptomes; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Variance analysis; Vein & artery diseases; Womens health; Mexico; United States > US; atherosclerosis; M1 macrophages; LDL internalization; transcriptional profile; sex-related; female; chromosome Y
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020490

M1 macrophages involved in pro-inflammatory processes can be induced by low-density lipoproteins (LDL), giving rise to foam cells. In the atheroma plaque, it has been identified that males present more advanced lesions associated with infiltration. Therefore, our study aims to investigate sex-related changes in the transcriptome of M1 macrophages during the internalization process of LDL particles. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy male and female subjects were separated using Hystopaque, and monocytes were isolated from PBMCs using a positive selection of CD14+ cells. Cells were stimulated with LDL 10 µg/mL, and the transcriptional profile of M1 macrophages performed during LDL internalization was determined using a Clariom D platform array. Chromosome Y influences the immune system and inflammatory responses in males expressing 43% of transcripts in response to LDL treatment. Males and females share 15 transcripts, where most correspond to non-coding elements involved in oxidative stress and endothelial damage. During LDL internalization, male monocyte-derived M1 macrophages display more marked proinflammatory gene expression. In contrast, female M1 macrophages display a more significant number of markers associated with cell damage.