Oxidized low-density lipoprotein stimulates dendritic cells maturation via LOX-1-mediated MAPK/NF-kB pathway

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role as central orchestrators of immune system response in atherosclerosis initiation and progression. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is involved in the immune maturation of DCs, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We isolated mouse bone marrow progenitors and stimulated them with granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin (IL)-4 to induce immature DCs. We then treated DCs with oxidized lowdensity lipoprotein (oxLDL) to induce maturation. LOX-1 siRNA was used to investigate the modulation of LOX-1 on the development of DCs and the underlying signal pathways. CD11c-positive DCs were successfully derived from mouse bone marrow progenitors. OxLDL promoted the expressions of DCs maturation markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines. OxLDL also upregulated LOX-1 expression and activated MAPK/NF-kB pathways. LOX-1 siRNA could attenuate the expression of MAPK/ NF-kB pathways and inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, oxLDL induced the maturation of DCs via LOX-1-mediated MAPK/ NF-kB pathway, which contributed to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis.