Background In
cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerotic disorder are the most frequent and important with respect to morbidity and mortality.
Inflammation mediated by immune cells is central in all parts of the atherosclerotic progress, and further understanding of the underlying mechanisms is needed. Growing evidence suggests that deamination of
adenosine-to-
inosine in
RNA is crucial for a correct immune response; nevertheless, the role of
adenosine-to-
inosine RNA editing in
atherogenesis has barely been studied. Several
proteins have affinity for inosines in
RNA, one being ENDOV (
endonuclease V), which binds and cleaves
RNA at inosines. Data on ENDOV in
atherosclerosis are lacking. Methods and Results Quantitative polymerase chain reaction on ENDOV
mRNA showed an increased level in human carotid
atherosclerotic plaques compared with control veins.
Inosine-
ribonuclease activity as measured by an
enzyme activity assay is detected in immune cells relevant for the atherosclerotic process. Abolishing EndoV in atherogenic
apolipoprotein E-deficient (
ApoE-/-) mice reduces the
atherosclerotic plaque burden, both in size and
lipid content. In addition, in a brain
stroke model, mice without ENDOV suffer less damage than control mice. Finally, lack of EndoV reduces the recruitment of monocytes to atherosclerotic lesions in atherogenic
ApoE-/- mice. Conclusions ENDOV is upregulated in human atherosclerotic lesions, and data from mice suggest that ENDOV promotes
atherogenesis by enhancing the monocyte recruitment into the atherosclerotic lesion, potentially by increasing the effect of CCL2 activation on these cells.