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PI3Kγ promotes neutrophil extracellular trap formation by noncanonical pyroptosis in abdominal aortic aneurysm
Yacheng Xiong, Shuai Liu, Yu Liu, Jiani Zhao, Jinjian Sun, Yongqing Li, Baihong Pan, Wei Wang
Yacheng Xiong, Shuai Liu, Yu Liu, Jiani Zhao, Jinjian Sun, Yongqing Li, Baihong Pan, Wei Wang
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Research Article Vascular biology

PI3Kγ promotes neutrophil extracellular trap formation by noncanonical pyroptosis in abdominal aortic aneurysm

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Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is one of the most life-threatening cardiovascular diseases; however, effective drug treatments are still lacking. The formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) has been shown to be a crucial trigger of AAA, and identifying upstream regulatory targets is thus key to discovering therapeutic agents for AAA. We revealed that phosphoinositide-3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) acted as an upstream regulatory molecule and that PI3Kγ inhibition reduced NET formation and aortic wall inflammation, thereby markedly ameliorating AAA. However, the mechanism of NET formation regulated by PI3Kγ remains unclear. In this study, we showed that PI3Kγ deficiency inactivated the noncanonical pyroptosis pathway, which suppressed downstream NET formation. In addition, PI3Kγ regulation of noncanonical pyroptosis was dependent on cyclic AMP/protein kinase A signaling. These results clarify the molecular mechanism and crosstalk between PI3Kγ and NETosis in the development of AAA, potentially facilitating the discovery of therapeutic options for AAA.

Authors

Yacheng Xiong, Shuai Liu, Yu Liu, Jiani Zhao, Jinjian Sun, Yongqing Li, Baihong Pan, Wei Wang

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Figure 4

Deficiency of PI3Kγ inhibits NETs’ formation in neutrophils.

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Deficiency of PI3Kγ inhibits NETs’ formation in neutrophils.
(A and C) R...
(A and C) Representative immunofluorescence staining images and quantitative comparison of NETs produced by neutrophils with different treatments: PBS (WT-derived neutrophils), LPS (5 μg/mL, WT-derived neutrophils), LPS (PI3Kγ–/––derived neutrophils), PBS (WT-derived neutrophils), TNF-α (50 ng/mL, WT-derived neutrophils), TNF-α (PI3Kγ–/––derived neutrophils). NETs were detected using immunofluorescence staining of DNA (DAPI, blue), citrullinated histone 3 (Cit H3, green), and myeloperoxidase (MPO, red). NETs’ expression was calculated by NET-expressing cell numbers/total cell numbers per high-power field (original magnification, 40×). n = 6. Scale bars, 50 μm. (B and D) Representative Western blot images and quantitative comparison of Cit H3 protein expression in each group of neutrophils with different treatments as described in A and C. n = 3. (A–D) One-way ANOVA followed by Fisher’s least significant difference post hoc test. *P < 0.05, and ***P < 0.001. PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.

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