Tribbles Homolog 3 Promotes Foam Cell Formation Associated with Decreased Proinflammatory Cytokine Production in Macrophages: Evidence for Reciprocal Regulation of Cholesterol Uptake and Inflammation.

Abstract

Insulin resistance is central in the pathophysiology of cardiometabolic disease; however, common mechanisms that explain the parallel development of both type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis have not been elucidated. We have previously shown that tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3) can exert a chronic pathophysiological role in promoting insulin resistance and also has an acute physiological role to alternatively regulate glucose uptake in fat and muscle during short-term fasting and nutrient excess. Since TRB3 is expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques, we explored its role in foam cell formation to assess its potential contribution to atherogenesis. We have used human THP-1 monocytes, which transition to lipid-laden macrophage foam cells when exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). We first observed that TRB3 was upregulated by more than twofold (P < 0.01) within 24 hr of treatment with ox-LDL. To determine whether TRB3 actively participated in foam cell formation, we overexpressed TRB3 in THP-1 monocytes and found that this led to a 1.5-fold increase in cholesterol accumulation after 48 hr (P < 0.01), compared with controls. At the same time, TRB3 overexpression suppressed inflammation in macrophages as evidenced by reduced expression and secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) (both P < 0.01). (1) TRB3 is upregulated in macrophages upon treatment with ox-LDL; (2) TRB3 promotes lipid accumulation and suppresses cytokine expression; and (3) inflammation and foam cell formation can be reciprocally regulated, and TRB3 orients the macrophage to assume a more primary role for lipid accumulation while maintaining a secondary role as an inflammatory immune cell.