Exploring the Role of ATP-Citrate Lyase in the Immune System.

Studies over the past decade have revealed that metabolism profoundly influences immune responses. In particular, metabolism causes epigenetic regulation of gene expression, as a growing number of metabolic intermediates are substrates for histone post-translational modifications altering chromatin structure. One of these substrates is acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA), which donates an acetyl group for histone acetylation. Cytosolic acetyl-CoA is also a critical substrate for de novo synthesis of fatty acids and sterols necessary for rapid cellular growth. One of the main enzymes catalyzing cytosolic acetyl-CoA formation is ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY). In addition to its classical function in the provision of acetyl-CoA for de novo lipogenesis, ACLY contributes to epigenetic regulation through histone acetylation, which is increasingly appreciated. In this review we explore the current knowledge of ACLY and acetyl-CoA in mediating innate and adaptive immune responses. We focus on the role of ACLY in supporting de novo lipogenesis in immune cells as well as on its impact on epigenetic alterations. Moreover, we summarize alternative sources of acetyl-CoA and their contribution to metabolic and epigenetic regulation in cells of the immune system.

PP2Cδ Controls the Differentiation and Function of Dendritic Cells Through Regulating the NSD2/mTORC2/ACLY Pathway.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are recognized as a key orchestrator of immune response and homeostasis, deregulation of which may lead to autoimmunity such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Herein we show that the phosphatase PP2Cδ played a pivotal role in regulating DC activation and function, as PP2Cδ ablation caused aberrant maturation, activation, and Th1/Th17-priming of DCs, and hence induced onset of exacerbated EAE. Mechanistically, PP2Cδ restrained the expression of the essential subunit of mTORC2, Rictor, primarily through de-phosphorylating and proteasomal degradation of the methyltransferase NSD2 via CRL4DCAF2 E3 ligase. Loss of PP2Cδ in DCs accordingly sustained activation of the Rictor/mTORC2 pathway and boosted glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism. Consequently, ATP-citrate lyse (ACLY) was increasingly activated and catalyzed acetyl-CoA for expression of the genes compatible with hyperactivated DCs under PP2Cδ deletion. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that PP2Cδ has an essential role in controlling DCs activation and function, which is critical for prevention of autoimmunity.

Polarization of Human Macrophages by Interleukin-4 Does Not Require ATP-Citrate Lyase.

Macrophages exposed to the Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL) IL-4 and IL-13 exhibit a distinct transcriptional response, commonly referred to as M2 polarization. Recently, IL-4-induced polarization of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) has been linked to acetyl-CoA levels through the activity of the cytosolic acetyl-CoA-generating enzyme ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY). Here, we studied how ACLY regulated IL-4-stimulated gene expression in human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). Although multiple ACLY inhibitors attenuated IL-4-induced target gene expression, this effect could not be recapitulated by silencing ACLY expression. Furthermore, ACLY inhibition failed to alter cellular acetyl-CoA levels and histone acetylation. We generated ACLY knockout human THP-1 macrophages using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. While these cells exhibited reduced histone acetylation levels, IL-4-induced gene expression remained intact. Strikingly, ACLY inhibitors still suppressed induction of target genes by IL-4 in ACLY knockout cells, suggesting off-target effects of these drugs. Our findings suggest that ACLY may not be the major regulator of nucleocytoplasmic acetyl-CoA and IL-4-induced polarization in human macrophages. Furthermore, caution should be warranted in interpreting the impact of pharmacological inhibition of ACLY on gene expression.

ATP-citrate lyase is essential for macrophage inflammatory response.

Growing evidence suggests that energy metabolism and inflammation are closely linked and that cross-talk between these processes is fundamental to the pathogenesis of many human diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations are still poorly understood. Here we describe the key role of ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) in inflammation. We find that ACLY mRNA and protein levels markedly and quickly increase in activated macrophages. Importantly, ACLY activity inhibition as well as ACLY gene silencing lead to reduced nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species and prostaglandin E2 inflammatory mediators. In conclusion, we present a direct role for ACLY in macrophage inflammatory metabolism.

The role of lipogenesis in the development of uremic hyperlipidemia.

BACKGROUND: It is well documented that hypertriglyceridemia in renal failure mostly is a result of impaired plasma triglyceride (TG) removal. However, the role of TG production in its development is obscure. Therefore, our attention was given to the gene expression of lipogenic enzymes participating in TG biosynthesis. METHODS: We measured some lipogenic enzyme activities, protein abundance (Western blot analysis), and messenger RNA level (Northern blot analysis) in liver and epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) of rats with surgically induced renal failure (two-stage subtotal nephrectomy). Simultaneously, plasma TG and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations in uremic animals were determined. RESULTS: An increase in plasma TG and VLDL concentrations in rats with renal failure was observed. It was associated with an increase in fatty acid synthase and adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase (ACL) gene expression in liver and WAT. Moreover, increased activities of malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were found. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study provide some evidence that the accumulation of TG-rich lipoproteins in renal insufficiency could be related in part to increased lipogenic enzyme gene expression and, consequently, TG overproduction.

Adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase mediates hypocitraturia in rats.

Chronic metabolic acidosis increases proximal tubular citrate uptake and metabolism. The present study addressed the effect of chronic metabolic acidosis on a cytosolic enzyme of citrate metabolism, ATP citrate lyase. Chronic metabolic acidosis caused hypocitraturia in rats and increased renal cortical ATP citrate lyase activity by 67% after 7 d. Renal cortical ATP citrate lyase protein abundance increased by 29% after 3 d and by 141% after 7 d of acid diet. No significant change in mRNA abundance could be detected. Hypokalemia, which causes only intracellular acidosis, caused hypocitraturia and increased renal cortical ATP citrate lyase activity by 28%. Conversely, the hypercitraturia of chronic alkali feeding was associated with no change in ATP citrate lyase activity. Inhibition of ATP citrate lyase with the competitive inhibitor, 4S-hydroxycitrate, significantly abated hypocitraturia and increased urinary citrate excretion fourfold in chronic metabolic acidosis and threefold in K+-depletion. In summary, the hypocitraturia of chronic metabolic acidosis is associated with an increase in ATP citrate lyase activity and protein abundance, and is partly reversed by inhibition of this enzyme. These results suggest an important role for ATP citrate lyase in proximal tubular citrate metabolism.

Purification and some properties of ATP-citrate lyase from rat brain.

ATP-citrate lyase has been purified from rat brain by a new procedure which yields an enzyme of specific activity of 21 U/mg protein (37 degrees C) (2050-fold purification). Purity (by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis) of the preparation was comparable to that of rat liver ATP-citrate lyase of similar specific activity. Both brain and liver ATP-citrate lyase have the same electrophoretic mobility, as well as the same immunoreactivity against specific rabbit anti-rat liver ATP-citrate lyase antibody. These data indicate that rat brain ATP-citrate lyase is similar or identical to that present in rat liver. Intraperitoneally injected 32Pi was incorporated into the structural phosphate of ATP-citrate lyase in rat liver but not into the rat brain enzyme.

Purification and properties of citrate lyase from Streptococcus diacetilactis.

Citrate lyase from Streptococcus diacetilactis has been purified to yield a protein that was homogeneous as judged by sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium experiments. The enzyme's sedimentation coefficient is 16.8 S and its molecular weight is around 585,000. It contains three nonidentical subunits of about 53,000, 34,000, and 10,000 daltons. The enzyme in its active form contains an acetyl group which turns over during the citrate cleavage reaction. Removal of the acetyl group inactivates the enzyme. The deacetyl enzyme can be partially reactivated by acetylation with acetic anhydride. The enzyme undergoes slow "reaction-inactivation." The rate of inactivation is first order and the rate constant of inactivation is much lower than that for a similar inactivation process of the citrate lyase from Klebsiella aerogenes. Like the latter enzyme it contains stoichiometric amounts of phosphopantothenate. The enzyme is inactivated at pH greater than 8.1 and the presence of citrate provides protection against this inactivation. Sedimentation studies of the enzyme at pH 8.7 indicate that the enzyme is dissociated, which may account for the inactivation. The enzyme is immunologically different from citrate lyases of K. aerogenes and Escherichia coli.