Abstract
Endothelial permeability, leukocyte attachment, and unregulated oxidized LDL (oxLDL) uptake by macrophages leading to the formation of foam cells are all vital in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. During inflammation, several inflammatory mediators regulate this process through the expression of distinct oxLDL binding cell surface receptors on macrophages. We have previously shown that Leukotriene D(4) (LTD(4)) promotes endothelial dysfunction, increasing endothelial permeability and enhancing TNFα-mediated attachment of monocytes to endothelium, which hints at its possible role in atherosclerosis. Here we analyzed the effect of LTD(4) on macrophage function. Macrophages mainly express CysLT(1)R and flux calcium in response to LTD(4). Further, LTD(4) potentiates phagocytosis in macrophages as revealed by the uptake of zymosan particles. Notably, LTD(4) augmented macrophage phagocytosis and oxLDL uptake which is sensitive to MK-571 [Montelukast (MK)], a CysLT(1)R-specific antagonist. Mechanistically, LTD(4) upregulated two receptors central to foam cell formation, oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (OLR1/LOX-1), and CD36 in a time and dose-dependent manner. Finally, LTD(4) enhanced the secretion of chemokines MCP-1 and MIP1β. Our results suggest that LTD(4) contributes to atherosclerosis either through driving foam cell formation or recruitment of immune cells or both. CysLT(1)R antagonists are safely being used in the treatment of asthma, and the findings from the current study suggest that these can be re-purposed for the treatment of atherosclerosis.