Elucidation of the Role of Lectin-Like oxLDL Receptor-1 in the Metabolic Responses of Macrophages to Human oxLDL

Atherogenesis is the narrowing of arteries due to plaque build-up that results in cardiovascular disease that can lead to death. The macrophage lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), also called the oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1), is currently thought to aid in atherosclerotic disease progression; therefore metabolic studies have potential to both provide mechanistic validation for the role of LOX-1 in disease progression and provide valuable information regarding biomarker strategies and clinical imaging. One such mechanistic study is the upregulation of LOX-1 by methylated bacterial DNA and deoxy-cytidylate-phosphate-deoxy-guanylate-DNA (CpG)-DNA exposure. CpG-DNA is known to promote oxidative burst responses in macrophages, due to its direct binding to toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) leading to the initiation of an NF-κB mediated immune response. In addition to the upregulation of macrophage LOX-1 expression, these studies have also examined the macrophage metabolic response to murine LOX-1/OLR1 antibody exposure. Our data suggests the antibody exposure effectively blocks LOX-1 dependent oxLDL metabolic activation of the macrophage, which was quantified using the multianalyte microphysiometer (MAMP). Using the MAMP to examine metabolic fluctuations during various types of oxLDL exposure, LOX-1 upregulation and inhibition provide valuable information regarding the role of LOX-1 in macrophage activation of oxidative burst.