MicroRNA-33 Deficiency Reduces the Progression of Atherosclerotic Plaque in ApoE(−/−) Mice

BACKGROUND: Cholesterol efflux from cells to apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) acceptors via the ATP-binding cassette transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 is thought to be central in the antiatherogenic mechanism. MicroRNA (miR)-33 is known to target ABCA1 and ABCG1 in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed the impact of the genetic loss of miR-33 in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. MiR-33 and apoE double-knockout mice (miR-33(−/−)Apoe(−/−)) showed an increase in circulating HDL-C levels with enhanced cholesterol efflux capacity compared with miR-33(+/+)Apoe(−/−) mice. Peritoneal macrophages from miR-33(−/−)Apoe(−/−) mice showed enhanced cholesterol efflux to apoA-I and HDL-C compared with miR-33(+/+)Apoe(−/−) macrophages. Consistent with these results, miR-33(−/−)Apoe(−/−) mice showed reductions in plaque size and lipid content. To elucidate the roles of miR-33 in blood cells, bone marrow transplantation was performed in these mice. Mice transplanted with miR-33(−/−)Apoe(−/−) bone marrow showed a significant reduction in lipid content in atherosclerotic plaque compared with mice transplanted with miR-33(+/+)Apoe(−/−) bone marrow, without an elevation of HDL-C. Some of the validated targets of miR-33 such as RIP140 (NRIP1) and CROT were upregulated in miR-33(−/−)Apoe(−/−) mice compared with miR-33(+/+)Apoe(−/−) mice, whereas CPT1a and AMPKα were not. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that miR-33 deficiency serves to raise HDL-C, increase cholesterol efflux from macrophages via ABCA1 and ABCG1, and prevent the progression of atherosclerosis. Many genes are altered in miR-33-deficient mice, and detailed experiments are required to establish miR-33 targeting therapy in humans.