NF-E2-related factor 2 promotes atherosclerosis by effects on plasma lipoproteins and cholesterol transport that overshadow antioxidant protection.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression plays an antiatherogenic role by its vascular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.


RESULTS
Nrf2 is an important transcription factor that regulates the expression of phase 2 detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant genes. Its expression in vascular cells appears to be an important factor in the protection against vascular oxidative stress and inflammation. We developed Nrf2 heterozygous (HET) and homozygous knockout (KO) mice on an apolipoprotein (apo) E-null background by sequential breeding, resulting in Nrf2(-/-), apoE(-/-) (KO), Nrf2(-/+), apoE(-/-) (HET) and Nrf2(+/+), and apoE(-/-) wild-type littermates. KO mice exhibited decreased levels of antioxidant genes with evidence of increased reactive oxygen species generation compared with wild-type controls. Surprisingly, KO males exhibited 47% and 53% reductions in the degree of aortic atherosclerosis compared with HET or wild-type littermates, respectively. Decreased atherosclerosis in KO mice correlated with lower plasma total cholesterol in a sex-dependent manner. KO mice also had a decreased hepatic cholesterol content and a lower expression of lipogenic genes, suggesting that hepatic lipogenesis could be reduced. In addition, KO mice exhibited atherosclerotic plaques characterized by a lesser macrophage component and decreased foam cell formation in an in vitro lipid-loading assay. This was associated with a lower rate of cholesterol influx, mediated in part by decreased expression of the scavenger receptor CD36.


CONCLUSIONS
Nrf2 expression unexpectedly promotes atherosclerotic lesion formation in a sex-dependent manner, most likely by a combination of systemic metabolic and local vascular effects.
Department of Medicine, University of California, Center for Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Berenice
B
Barajas
Nam
N
Che
Fen
F
Yin
Amir
A
Rowshanrad
Luz D
LD
Orozco
Ke Wei
KW
Gong
Xuping
X
Wang
Lawrence W
LW
Castellani
Karen
K
Reue
Aldons J
AJ
Lusis
Jesus A
JA
Araujo
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001692:Biological Transport; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors
D000975:Antioxidants; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D008074:Lipoproteins; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495636:Nfe2l2 protein, mouse; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002784:Cholesterol