Frontiers in Immunology (Mar 2023)

Proteomic characterisation of perhexiline treatment on THP-1 M1 macrophage differentiation

  • Bimala Dhakal,
  • Bimala Dhakal,
  • Celine Man Ying Li,
  • Celine Man Ying Li,
  • Mahnaz Ramezanpour,
  • Mahnaz Ramezanpour,
  • Mahnaz Ramezanpour,
  • Ghais Houtak,
  • Ghais Houtak,
  • Ghais Houtak,
  • Runhao Li,
  • Runhao Li,
  • Runhao Li,
  • George Bouras,
  • George Bouras,
  • George Bouras,
  • Alex Collela,
  • Nusha Chegeni,
  • Tim Kennion Chataway,
  • Paul Drew,
  • Paul Drew,
  • Benedetta C. Sallustio,
  • Benedetta C. Sallustio,
  • Sarah Vreugde,
  • Sarah Vreugde,
  • Sarah Vreugde,
  • Eric Smith,
  • Eric Smith,
  • Eric Smith,
  • Guy Maddern,
  • Guy Maddern,
  • Giovanni Licari,
  • Giovanni Licari,
  • Kevin Fenix,
  • Kevin Fenix,
  • Kevin Fenix

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1054588
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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BackgroundDysregulated inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of many diseases including cancer, allergy, and autoimmunity. Macrophage activation and polarisation are commonly involved in the initiation, maintenance and resolution of inflammation. Perhexiline (PHX), an antianginal drug, has been suggested to modulate macrophage function, but the molecular effects of PHX on macrophages are unknown. In this study we investigated the effect of PHX treatment on macrophage activation and polarization and reveal the underlying proteomic changes induced.MethodsWe used an established protocol to differentiate human THP-1 monocytes into M1 or M2 macrophages involving three distinct, sequential stages (priming, rest, and differentiation). We examined the effect of PHX treatment at each stage on the polarization into either M1 or M2 macrophages using flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Quantitative changes in the proteome were investigated using data independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA MS).ResultsPHX treatment promoted M1 macrophage polarization, including increased STAT1 and CCL2 expression and IL-1β secretion. This effect occurred when PHX was added at the differentiation stage of the M1 cultures. Proteomic profiling of PHX treated M1 cultures identified changes in metabolic (fatty acid metabolism, cholesterol homeostasis and oxidative phosphorylation) and immune signalling (Receptor Tyrosine Kinase, Rho GTPase and interferon) pathways.ConclusionThis is the first study to report on the action of PHX on THP-1 macrophage polarization and the associated changes in the proteome of these cells.

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