Augmenting ATG14 alleviates atherosclerosis and inhibits inflammation via promotion of autophagosome-lysosome fusion in macrophages

Dysfunction of macroautophagy/autophagy in macrophages contributes to atherosclerosis. Impaired autophagy-lysosomal degradation system leads to lipid accumulation, facilitating atherosclerotic plaque. ATG14 is an essential regulator for the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. Whether ATG14 plays a role in macrophage autophagy dysfunction in atherosclerosis is unknown. To investigate the effects of ATG14 on macrophage autophagy, human atherosclerotic plaque, apoe(-/-) mice and cultured mouse macrophages were evaluated. Overexpression of ATG14 by adenovirus was used to reveal its function in autophagy, inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque formation. Results showed that impaired autophagy function with reduction of ATG14 expression existed in macrophages of human and mouse atherosclerotic plaques. Ox-LDL impaired autophagosome-lysosome fusion with reduction of ATG14 expression in macrophages. Overexpression of ATG14 in macrophages enhanced fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes and promoted lipid degradation, decreasing Ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response. Augmenting ATG14 expression reversed the autophagy dysfunction in macrophages of apoe(-/-) mice plaque, blunted SQSTM1/p62 accumulation, inhibited inflammation, and upregulated the population of Treg cells, resulting in alleviating atherosclerotic lesions.

Automated summary

The dysfunction of autophagy in macrophages contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, with ATG14 playing a crucial role in regulating the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. Impaired autophagy function due to reduced ATG14 expression was observed in macrophages of atherosclerotic plaques, and overexpression of ATG14 promoted autophagy, lipid degradation, and reduced inflammation, thereby alleviating atherosclerotic lesions in mice.