MicroRNA 33 Regulates the Population of Peripheral Inflammatory Ly6C(high) Monocytes through Dual Pathways

MicroRNA 33 (miR-33) targets ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), and its deficiency increases serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (HDL-C) and ameliorates atherosclerosis. Although we previously reported that miR-33 deficiency increased peripheral Ly6C(high) monocytes on an ApoE-deficient background, the effect of miR-33 on the monocyte population has not been fully elucidated, especially in a wild-type (WT) background. We found that Ly6C(high) monocytes in miR-33(−/−) mice were decreased in peripheral blood and increased in bone marrow (BM). Expansion of myeloid progenitors and decreased apoptosis in Lin(−) Sca1(+) c-Kit(+) (LSK) cells were observed in miR-33(−/−) mice. A BM transplantation study and competitive repopulation assay revealed that hematopoietic miR-33 deficiency caused myeloid expansion and increased peripheral Ly6C(high) monocytes and that nonhematopoietic miR-33 deficiency caused reduced peripheral Ly6C(high) monocytes. Expression of high-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) targeted by miR-33 increased in miR-33-deficient LSK cells, and its knockdown abolished the reduction of apoptosis. Transduction of human apolipoprotein A1 and ABCA1 in WT mouse liver increased HDL-C and reduced peripheral Ly6C(high) monocytes. These data indicate that miR-33 deficiency affects distribution of inflammatory monocytes through dual pathways. One pathway involves the enhancement of Hmga2 expression in hematopoietic stem cells to increase Ly6C(high) monocytes, and the other involves the elevation of HDL-C to decrease peripheral Ly6C(high) monocytes.