For the First Time, Scientists Demonstrate TRIB1 Contributes to Cardiovascular Disease

Research has shown for the first time that a protein expressed in a subset of immune cells contributes towards the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries, which leads to cardiovascular disease.

These fatty deposits are caused by macrophages, a subset of immune cells known to take up surplus cholesterol. When this is present in excess, they mature into larger cholesterol-laden cells known as foam cells which accumulate and cause blockages inside arteries.

The study shows that levels of a protein called Tribbles-1 (TRIB1) inside macrophages controls the amount of cholesterol taken up by foam cells.

The research shows that higher levels of TRIB1 increased specific cholesterol uptake receptors, promoting arterial disease, whereas decreasing TRIB1 reduced disease. The findings of this early translational study which involved the University of Leicester and scientists from Hungary and the US, suggest that inhibiting TRIB1 in macrophages could be a viable therapeutic target in treating cardiovascular disease.

Credit: University of Sheffield

Researchers have long been trying to identify the proteins regulated by TRIB1 to understand their effects, and whether they are of benefit or are detrimental to disease development.

Dr Jessica Johnston, first author said: “The role of TRIB1 in macrophages has remained elusive for some time. Our research provides the missing link and highlights the importance of cell-specific expression in cardiovascular disease.”

Professor Alison Goodall from the University of Leicester, said: “We were delighted to be able to support the study with data from our large cohorts of human subjects, to demonstrate the links between TRIB1 and cholesterol uptake in humans.”

Professor Endre Kiss-Toth also from the Department of IICD led the study. He said: “Studying the genetics of cardiovascular disease in large human populations has revealed that TRIB1 contributes to its development.”

“However, this is the first time that its role in immune cells has been directly addressed, thus uncovering a new mechanism by which arterial disease develops.”

“The research into this mechanism has not yet translated into novel medical interventions. However, we now have pre-clinical proof that it would be beneficial to build on this research and see which patients with cardiovascular disease would benefit from the development of treatments to manage their lipid-laden foam cell formation.”

Reference

Johnston et al. (2019) Myeloid Tribbles 1 induces early atherosclerosis via enhanced foam cell expansion. Science Advances. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax9183

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.