Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide Levels in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Mice and Human

Obesity represents a worldwide health challenge, and the condition is accompanied by elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases caused by metabolic dysfunction and proinflammatory adipokines. Among those, the immune-modulatory cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (human: CAMP; murine: CRAMP) might contr...

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Main Authors: Alexandra Höpfinger, Andreas Schmid, Thomas Karrasch, Sabine Pankuweit, Andreas Schäffler, Karsten Grote
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/5/2909
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author Alexandra Höpfinger
Andreas Schmid
Thomas Karrasch
Sabine Pankuweit
Andreas Schäffler
Karsten Grote
author_facet Alexandra Höpfinger
Andreas Schmid
Thomas Karrasch
Sabine Pankuweit
Andreas Schäffler
Karsten Grote
author_sort Alexandra Höpfinger
collection DOAJ
description Obesity represents a worldwide health challenge, and the condition is accompanied by elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases caused by metabolic dysfunction and proinflammatory adipokines. Among those, the immune-modulatory cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (human: CAMP; murine: CRAMP) might contribute to the interaction of the innate immune system and metabolism in these settings. We investigated systemic CAMP/CRAMP levels in experimental murine models of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular patients. Atherosclerosis was induced in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr<sup>−/−</sup>) mice by high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6J wild-type mice were subjected to myocardial infarction by permanent or transient left anterior descending (LAD)-ligation. <i>Cramp</i> gene expression in murine organs and tissues was investigated via real-time PCR. Blood samples of 234 adult individuals with or without coronary artery disease (CAD) were collected. Human and murine CAMP/CRAMP serum levels were quantified by ELISA. Atherosclerotic mice exhibited significantly increased CRAMP serum levels and induced <i>Cramp</i> gene expression in the spleen and liver, whereas experimental myocardial infarction substantially decreased CRAMP serum levels. Human CAMP serum quantities were not significantly affected by CAD while being correlated with leukocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our data show an influence of cathelicidin in experimental atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, as well as in patients with CAD. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism.
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spelling doaj.art-f3e2e6da5b294f5a9932c3b1c902e0b82024-03-12T16:46:49ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672024-03-01255290910.3390/ijms25052909Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide Levels in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Mice and HumanAlexandra Höpfinger0Andreas Schmid1Thomas Karrasch2Sabine Pankuweit3Andreas Schäffler4Karsten Grote5Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Giessen, Klinikstr. 33, 35392 Giessen, GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University of Giessen, Klinikstr. 33, 35392 Giessen, GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University of Giessen, Klinikstr. 33, 35392 Giessen, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology and Angiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Baldinger Str., 35043 Marburg, GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine III, University of Giessen, Klinikstr. 33, 35392 Giessen, GermanyDepartment of Cardiology and Angiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Baldinger Str., 35043 Marburg, GermanyObesity represents a worldwide health challenge, and the condition is accompanied by elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases caused by metabolic dysfunction and proinflammatory adipokines. Among those, the immune-modulatory cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (human: CAMP; murine: CRAMP) might contribute to the interaction of the innate immune system and metabolism in these settings. We investigated systemic CAMP/CRAMP levels in experimental murine models of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular patients. Atherosclerosis was induced in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr<sup>−/−</sup>) mice by high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6J wild-type mice were subjected to myocardial infarction by permanent or transient left anterior descending (LAD)-ligation. <i>Cramp</i> gene expression in murine organs and tissues was investigated via real-time PCR. Blood samples of 234 adult individuals with or without coronary artery disease (CAD) were collected. Human and murine CAMP/CRAMP serum levels were quantified by ELISA. Atherosclerotic mice exhibited significantly increased CRAMP serum levels and induced <i>Cramp</i> gene expression in the spleen and liver, whereas experimental myocardial infarction substantially decreased CRAMP serum levels. Human CAMP serum quantities were not significantly affected by CAD while being correlated with leukocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our data show an influence of cathelicidin in experimental atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, as well as in patients with CAD. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/5/2909cathelicidin antimicrobial peptideatherosclerosiscoronary artery diseaseLdlr<sup>−/−</sup> mice
spellingShingle Alexandra Höpfinger
Andreas Schmid
Thomas Karrasch
Sabine Pankuweit
Andreas Schäffler
Karsten Grote
Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide Levels in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Mice and Human
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide
atherosclerosis
coronary artery disease
Ldlr<sup>−/−</sup> mice
title Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide Levels in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Mice and Human
title_full Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide Levels in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Mice and Human
title_fullStr Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide Levels in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Mice and Human
title_full_unstemmed Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide Levels in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Mice and Human
title_short Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide Levels in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction in Mice and Human
title_sort cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide levels in atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction in mice and human
topic cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide
atherosclerosis
coronary artery disease
Ldlr<sup>−/−</sup> mice
url https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/5/2909
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