ORP4L Facilitates Macrophage Survival via G-Protein-Coupled Signaling: ORP4L-/- Mice Display a Reduction of Atherosclerosis.

RATIONALE: Macrophage survival within the arterial wall is a central factor contributing to atherogenesis. Oxysterols, major components of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, exert cytotoxic effects on macrophages.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether oxysterol-binding protein-related protein 4 L (ORP4L), an oxysterol-binding protein, affects macrophage survival and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS: By hiring cell biological approaches and ORP4L- /- mice, we show that ORP4L coexpresses with and forms a complex with Gαq/11 and phospholipase C (PLC)-β3 in macrophages. ORP4L facilitates G-protein-coupled ligand-induced PLCβ3 activation, IP3 production, and Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum. Through this mechanism, ORP4L sustains antiapoptotic Bcl-XL expression through Ca2+ -mediated c-AMP responsive element binding protein transcriptional regulation and thus protects macrophages from apoptosis. Excessive stimulation with the oxysterol 25-hydroxycholesterol disassembles the ORP4L/Gαq/11 /PLCβ3 complexes, resulting in reduced PLCβ3 activity, IP3 production, and Ca2+ release, as well as decreased Bcl-XL expression and increased apoptosis. Overexpression of ORP4L counteracts these oxysterol-induced defects. Mice lacking ORP4L exhibit increased apoptosis of macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions and a reduced lesion size.

CONCLUSIONS: ORP4L is crucial for macrophage survival. It counteracts the cytotoxicity of oxysterols/oxidized low-density lipoprotein to protect macrophage from apoptosis, thus playing an important role in the development of atherosclerosis.