p38α in macrophages aggravates arterial endothelium injury by releasing IL-6 through phosphorylating megakaryocytic leukemia 1

Macrophages regulate the inflammatory response and affect re-endothelialization. Inflammation and macrophages play important roles in promoting tissue repair, but p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase's role in re-endothelialization is unknown. Wire injuries of carotid arteries and Evans blue staining were performed in macrophage-specific p38α-knockout (p38αfl/flLysMCre+/-) mice and control mice (p38αfl/fl). Re-endothelialization of the carotid arteries at 3, 5 and 7 days was significantly promoted in p38αfl/flLysMCre+/- mice. In vitro experiments indicated that both the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells were enhanced in conditioned medium from peritoneal macrophages of p38αfl/flLysMCre+/- mice. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level was decreased significantly in macrophages of p38αfl/flLysMCre+/- mice and an IL-6-neutralizing antibody promoted endothelial cell migration in vitro and re-endothelialization in p38αfl/fl mice in vivo. Phosphoproteomics revealed that the phosphorylation level of S544/T545/S549 sites in megakaryocytic leukemia 1 (MKL1) was decreased in p38αfl/flLysMCre+/- mice. The mutation of either S544/S549 or T545/S549 sites could reduce the expression of IL-6 and the inhibition of MKL1 reduced the expression of IL-6 in vitro and promoted re-endothelialization in vivo. p38α in macrophages aggravates injury of arteries by phosphorylating MKL1, and increasing IL-6 expression after vascular injury. [Display omitted] •Re-endothelialization of the carotid arteries is significantly promoted when p38α is knocked out in macrophages.•Inhibiting IL-6 activity by a neutralizing antibody promotes re-endothelialization.•p38α mediates S544/S549 and T545/S549 phosphorylation motif in MKL1 which regulates the expression of IL-6 in mouse.