Fig 2: CTRP12-induced upregulation of LXRa, ABCA1, and ABCG1 is mediated by miR-155-5p.A THP-1 macrophages were treated with 50 µg/mL ox-LDL for 48 h and then transfected with PBS, LV-NC, or LV-CTRP12 for 72 h, followed by detection of miR-155-5p expression using qRT-PCR. B–D THP-1 macrophages were loaded with 50 µg/mL ox-LDL for 48 h, transfected with miR-155-5p mimic for another 48 h and then transduced with LV-CTRP12 for 72 h. The mRNA and protein levels of LXRa, ABCA1, and ABCG1 were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Data are represented as the mean ± SD from three independent experiments. ??*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001.

Fig 3: Involvement of LXRa in CTRP12-induced upregulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression.A THP-1 macrophages were treated with 50 µg/mL ox-LDL for 48 h, followed by transfection with PBS, LV-NC, or LV-CTRP12 for 72 h. LXRa expression was determined by qRT-PCR and western blot. B After transfection with scrambled siRNA or LXRa siRNA for 48 h, cell lysates were immunoblotted with indicated antibodies. C–E THP-1 macrophages were loaded with 50 µg/mL ox-LDL for 48 h, transfected with LXRa siRNA for another 48 h and then treated with LV-CTRP12 for 72 h. C The mRNA and protein levels of ABCA1 and ABCG1 were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. D, E Representative fluorescent images of NBD-cholesterol burden (×200) and quantitative analyses of cholesterol efflux to apoA-I and HDL. Scale bar = 20 µm. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD from three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.

Fig 4: Effects of CTRP12 on the expression of cholesterol efflux and uptake markers.A–D THP-1 macrophages were incubated with 50 µg/mL ox-LDL for 48 h, followed by treatment with PBS, LV-NC, or LV-CTRP12 for 72 h. A, B The expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 was determined by qRT-PCR and western blot. C, D Detection of CD36 and SR-A expression using qRT-PCR and western blot. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD from three independent experiments. ****P < 0.0001; ns not significant.