CTRP9 alleviates foam cells apoptosis by enhancing cholesterol efflux

The apoptosis of foam cells leads to instability of atherosclerotic plaques. This study was designed to explore the protective role of CTRP9 in foam cell apoptosis. In our experiment, CTRP9 alleviated foam cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, CTRP9 upregulated the expression of proteins important for cholesterol efflux, such as LXR alpha, CYP27A1, ABCG1 and ABCA1, and improved cholesterol efflux in foam cells. Moreover, CTRP9 inhibited Wnt3a and beta-catenin expression and beta-catenin nuclear translocation in foam cells. In addition, adenovirus overexpression of Wnt3a abolished the effect of CTRP9 on macrophage apoptosis. Mechanistically, the AMPK inhibitor abolished the effect of CTRP9 on foam cell apoptosis, and downregulation of AdipoR1 by siRNA abrogated the activation of AMPK and the effect of CTRP9 on foam cell apoptosis. We concluded that CTRP9 achieved these protective effects on foam cells through the AdipoR1/AMPK pathway.

Automated summary

CTRP9 protects foam cells from apoptosis by regulating cholesterol efflux, inhibiting the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway, and activating the AdipoR1/AMPK pathway.