Dendritic cell-mediated chronic low-grade inflammation is regulated by the RAGE-TLR4-PKCβ(1) signaling pathway in diabetic atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: The unique mechanism of diabetic atherosclerosis has been a central research focus. Previous literature has reported that the inflammatory response mediated by dendritic cells (DCs) plays a vital role in the progression of atherosclerosis. The objective of the study was to explore the role of DCs in diabetes mellitus complicated by atherosclerosis. METHODS: ApoE(−/−) mice and bone marrow-derived DCs were used for in vivo and in vitro experiments, respectively. Masson’s staining and Oil-red-O staining were performed for atherosclerotic lesion assessment. The content of macrophages and DCs in plaque was visualized by immunohistochemistry. The expression of CD83 and CD86 were detected by flow cytometry. The fluctuations in the RNA levels of cytokines, chemokines, chemokine receptors and adhesions were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. The concentrations of IFN-γ and TNF-α were calculated using ELISA kits and the proteins were detected using western blot. Coimmunoprecipitation was used to detect protein–protein interactions. RESULTS: Compared with the ApoE(−/−) group, the volume of atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic root of diabetic ApoE(−/−) mice was significantly increased, numbers of macrophages and DCs were increased, and the collagen content in plaques decreased. The expression of CD83 and CD86 were significantly upregulated in splenic CD11c(+) DCs derived from mice with hyperglycemia. Increased secretion of cytokines, chemokines, chemokine receptors, intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM), and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) also were observed. The stimulation of advanced glycation end products plus oxidized low-density lipoprotein, in cultured BMDCs, further activated toll-like receptor 4, protein kinase C and receptor of AGEs, and induced immune maturation of DCs through the RAGE-TLR4-PKCβ(1) signaling pathway that was bound together by intrinsic structures on the cell membrane. Administering LY333531 significantly increased the body weight of diabetic ApoE(−/−) mice, inhibited the immune maturation of spleen DCs, and reduced atherosclerotic plaques in diabetic ApoE(−/−) mice. Furthermore, the number of DCs and macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques was significantly reduced in the LY333531 group, and the collagen content was increased. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes mellitus aggravates chronic inflammation, and promotes atherosclerotic plaques in conjunction with hyperlipidemia, which at least in part through inducing the immune maturation of DCs, and its possible mechanism of action is through the RAGE-TLR4-pPKCβ(1) signaling pathway. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10020-022-00431-6.