Phage Display Preparation of Specific Polypeptides in Atherosclerotic Foam Cells

Xiang Ji,Feng Wu,Lan Ma,Dan Liu,Yu Cen

doi:10.3390/app12020562

Abstract

Atherosclerosis and related complications are the most common causes of death in modern societies. Macrophage-derived foam cells play critical roles in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Effective, rapid, and instrument-independent detection in the early stage of chronic atherosclerosis progression could provide an opportunity for early intervention and treatment. Therefore, as a starting point, in this study, we aimed to isolate and prepare foam cell-specific polypeptides using a phage display platform. The six target polypeptides, which were acquired in this study, were evaluated by ELISA and showed strong specificity with foam cells. Streptavidin coupled quantum dots (QDs) were used as fluorescence developing agents, and images of biotin-modified polypeptides specifically binding with foam cells were clearly observed. The polypeptides obtained in this study could lay the foundation for developing a rapid detection kit for early atherosclerosis lesions and could provide new materials for research on the mechanisms of foam cell formation and the development of blocking drugs.

Highlights

Received: 24 November 2021Atherosclerotic lesion is a progressive chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a gradual asymmetric focal thickening of the intima of an artery, and hardening of the artery that leads to a reduction in lumen diameter and potentially results in ischemia following plaque rupture [1]; atherosclerotic complications are the most common causes of death in modern societies
We derived foam cells induced from THP-1 and identified them by cellular physiochemistry, as well as at the molecular level by Oil Red O (ORO) staining, ROS fluorescence analysis, and RT-PCR
Red O staining for intracellular lipids, in which foam cells appeared to be larger than THP-1, and the dense ORO-stained particles of foam cells showed that they were filled with the most lipid droplets

Summary

Introduction

Received: 24 November 2021Atherosclerotic lesion (atheroma) is a progressive chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a gradual asymmetric focal thickening of the intima of an artery, and hardening of the artery that leads to a reduction in lumen diameter and potentially results in ischemia following plaque rupture [1]; atherosclerotic complications are the most common causes of death in modern societies. Blood-borne inflammatory and immune cells constitute an essential part of atheroma, with the remainder including vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Atheroma is preceded by a fatty streak, the earliest type of lesion, which is an accumulation of lipid-laden cells beneath the endothelium. Most of these cells in the fatty streak are macrophages, together with some T cells. Fatty streaks are prevalent in infants and young people, never cause symptoms, and may progress to atheroma or eventually disappear [4]. In the center of an atheroma, foam cells and extracellular lipid droplets form a core region surrounded by a cap of smooth muscle cells and a collagen-rich matrix

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