Extracellular vesicles carrying proinflammatory factors may spread atherosclerosis to remote locations

Most cells involved in atherosclerosis release extracellular vesicles (EVs), which can carry bioactive substances to downstream tissues via circulation. We hypothesized that EVs derived from atherosclerotic plaques could promote atherogenesis in remote locations, a mechanism that mimics the blood metastasis of cancer. Ldlr gene knockout (Ldlr KO) rats were fed on a high cholesterol diet and underwent partial carotid ligation to induce local atherosclerosis. EVs were separated from carotid artery tissues and downstream blood of carotid ligation by centrifugation. MiRNA sequencing and qPCR were then performed to detect miRNA differences in EVs from rats with and without induced carotid atherosclerosis. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that EVs derived from atherosclerosis could increase the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin in endothelial cells in vitro. EVs derived from atherosclerosis contained a higher level of miR-23a-3p than those derived from controls. MiR-23a-3p could promote endothelial inflammation by targeting Dusp5 and maintaining ERK1/2 phosphorylation in vitro. Inhibiting EV release could attenuate atherogenesis and reduce macrophage infiltration in vivo. Intravenously administrating atherosclerotic plaque-derived EVs could induce intimal inflammation, arterial wall thickening and lumen narrowing in the carotids of Ldlr KO rats, while simultaneous injection of miR-23a-3p antagomir could reverse this reaction. The results suggested that EVs may transfer atherosclerosis to remote locations by carrying proinflammatory factors, particularly miR-23a-3p.