You are here

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP-7) Polarizes Monocytes into M2 Macrophages

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
2013
Abstract/Description:
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which an accumulation of fatty acids and cholesterol occurs to form a plaque in small and large arteries. Monocyte polarization to classic M1 macrophages or alternative M2 macrophages is an important area of research that can determine the severity of disease progression. BMP-7 is a key growth factor responsible for directing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into brown fat cells, suggesting a role of BMP-7 in cellular plasticity; however, its role in monocyte polarization is yet to be revealed. In the current study, we hypothesize that monocyte treatment with BMP-7 will significantly result in increased polarization of monocytes into M2 macrophages and increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. To that effect, we have established a stress induced cell culture system with monocytes (THP-1 cells) and apoptotic conditioned medium (ACM), simulating injury, to understand the effects of BMP-7 on M2 macrophage polarization from monocytes. Our data demonstrates that the BMP type 2 receptor (BMPR2) is found on monocytes and its activation is significantly (p(<)0.05) increased in both monocytes and M2 macrophages following treatment with BMP-7. Furthermore, a significant (p(<)0.05) increase of M2 macrophages in the BMP-7 treated group was shown following immunostaining with CD206 and arginase-1, two M2 macrophage markers, whereas a significant (p(<)0.05) decrease of iNOS expression, an M1 macrophage marker, was shown. Moreover, treatment with BMP-7 resulted in significantly (p(<)0.05) increased expression of IL-10 and IL-1ra, two anti-inflammatory cytokines, but significantly (p(<)0.05) decreased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, MCP-1, IL-6 and TNF-?. We also hypothesize that polarization of monocytes to M2 macrophages occurs through activation of SMAD1/5/8 and PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathways. Upon BMP-7 binding to its receptor, BMPR2, activation of SMAD1/5/8 occurs which then activates the p85 subunit of PI3K resulting in downstream activation of Akt and mTOR. Our data shows that following treatment with BMP-7, expression of p-SMAD1/5/8, p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR is significantly (p(<)0.05) increased compared to controls whereas p-PTEN, an inhibitor of the PI3K pathway, is significantly (p(<)0.05) decreased in the BMP-7 treated group compared to controls. In conclusion, our data reveals that BMP-7 polarizes monocytes into M2 macrophages and it achieves this through activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway, which will have significant applications for atherosclerosis treatment.
Title: Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP-7) Polarizes Monocytes into M2 Macrophages.
27 views
10 downloads
Name(s): Rocher, Crystal, Author
Singla, Dinender, Committee Chair
Siddiqi, Shadab, Committee Member
Sugaya, Kiminobu, Committee Member
, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2013
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which an accumulation of fatty acids and cholesterol occurs to form a plaque in small and large arteries. Monocyte polarization to classic M1 macrophages or alternative M2 macrophages is an important area of research that can determine the severity of disease progression. BMP-7 is a key growth factor responsible for directing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into brown fat cells, suggesting a role of BMP-7 in cellular plasticity; however, its role in monocyte polarization is yet to be revealed. In the current study, we hypothesize that monocyte treatment with BMP-7 will significantly result in increased polarization of monocytes into M2 macrophages and increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. To that effect, we have established a stress induced cell culture system with monocytes (THP-1 cells) and apoptotic conditioned medium (ACM), simulating injury, to understand the effects of BMP-7 on M2 macrophage polarization from monocytes. Our data demonstrates that the BMP type 2 receptor (BMPR2) is found on monocytes and its activation is significantly (p(<)0.05) increased in both monocytes and M2 macrophages following treatment with BMP-7. Furthermore, a significant (p(<)0.05) increase of M2 macrophages in the BMP-7 treated group was shown following immunostaining with CD206 and arginase-1, two M2 macrophage markers, whereas a significant (p(<)0.05) decrease of iNOS expression, an M1 macrophage marker, was shown. Moreover, treatment with BMP-7 resulted in significantly (p(<)0.05) increased expression of IL-10 and IL-1ra, two anti-inflammatory cytokines, but significantly (p(<)0.05) decreased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, MCP-1, IL-6 and TNF-?. We also hypothesize that polarization of monocytes to M2 macrophages occurs through activation of SMAD1/5/8 and PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathways. Upon BMP-7 binding to its receptor, BMPR2, activation of SMAD1/5/8 occurs which then activates the p85 subunit of PI3K resulting in downstream activation of Akt and mTOR. Our data shows that following treatment with BMP-7, expression of p-SMAD1/5/8, p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR is significantly (p(<)0.05) increased compared to controls whereas p-PTEN, an inhibitor of the PI3K pathway, is significantly (p(<)0.05) decreased in the BMP-7 treated group compared to controls. In conclusion, our data reveals that BMP-7 polarizes monocytes into M2 macrophages and it achieves this through activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway, which will have significant applications for atherosclerosis treatment.
Identifier: CFE0004922 (IID), ucf:49617 (fedora)
Note(s): 2013-08-01
M.S.
Medicine, Molecular Biology and Microbiology
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Monocytes -- M2 Macrophages -- BMP-7 -- Cytokines -- Akt -- PTEN
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004922
Restrictions on Access: campus 2016-08-15
Host Institution: UCF

In Collections