Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) increases the release ofneutrophil products associated with coronary vulnerability

Alessandra Quercioli, François Mach, Maria Bertolotto, Sébastien Lenglet, Nicolas Vuilleumier, Katia Galan, Sabrina Pagano, Vincent Braunersreuther, Graziano Pelli, Vito Pistoia, Giovanna Bianchi, Giuseppe Cittadini, Giorgio Luciano Viviani, Aldo Pende, Pascale Roux-Lombard, Aurélien Thomas, Christian Staub, Osman Ratib, Franco Dallegri, Thomas Helmut SchindlerFabrizio Montecucco

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Summary The "blood vulnerability", resulting from the complex balance betweenserum molecules and inflammatory cell atherosclerotic activities, is amajor determinant in the evaluation of the "global patient cardiovascularvulnerability". In the present study, we focused on the role of the solublereceptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) ligand(RANKL, a potential marker of coronary calcification and vulnerability)in the release of neutrophilic proteases. Then, the association betweenthese mediators and the degree of coronary calcification (assessed bycoronary calcium score [CCS]) was investigated in 20 subjects (aged≥65 years) asymptomatic for cardiovascular disease. Results showedthat RANKL dose-dependently induced matrix metalloprotease(MMP)-8 and MMP-9 release from human primary neutrophils culturedin Teflon dishes (suspension condition, mimicking cells circulating in theblood stream). Conversely, when adherent to polystyrene, neutrophilsbecame unresponsive to RANKL. RANKL did not influence the release ofother neutrophilic products in suspension and adherence cultures aswell as neutrophil migration. RANKL-induced release of MMPs was dependenton the activation of defined intracellular signalling pathways(PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2). In asymptomatic subjects, serum levels ofRANKL, MMP-8 and MMP-9 positively correlated with CCS, reflecting apotential relationship between circulating RANKL and coronary calcification.In conclusion, RANKL increased the release of neutrophilic productspotentially related to the "blood" vulnerability via defined intracellularpathways. Serum levels of RANKL might represent a potentialbiomarker of coronary calcification and related cardiovascular risk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)124-139
Number of pages16
JournalThrombosis and Haemostasis
Volume107
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Leukocyte function/activation
  • Matrix metalloproteinases

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology

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