Myeloid GPSM1 regulates atherosclerosis progression by governing monocyte and macrophage activation and chemotaxis

Y Yuemei Zhang (Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes) Y Yuxin Cao (Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes) Y Yongxin Sun (Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University) C Chenxia Zhou (Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine) X Xiaorui Lyu (Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes) D Daixi Wang (Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes) J Jiangfei Zheng (Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes) Y Yuxin Shu L Lijun Yao (Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes) R Rong Zhang (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China) J Jingyong Li (Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology) F Feng Jiang (State Key Laboratory of Integrated Optoelectronics, JLU Region, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China) X Xiang Cheng J Jing Yan C Cheng Hu

Abstract

The activation of blood monocytes and the infiltration of monocyte-derived macrophages into the vessel walls are the central part of atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the processes remain unclear. Here, we report that G-protein signaling modulator 1 (GPSM1) plays a critical role in atherogenesis. We found that GPSM1 expression in lesional macrophages was increased during atherosclerosis development both in mice and humans. Myeloid-specific GPSM1 ablation protects mice against atherosclerosis and reduces aortic inflammation in both Apoe −/− mice and an AAV-PCSK9 injection model. Conversely, myeloid-restricted overexpression of GPSM1 accelerates aortic inflammation and promotes atherosclerosis development in mice. Mechanistically, GPSM1 deficiency suppressed monocyte activation including chemotaxis and adhesion through inhibition of the p38/ERK MAPK pathway regulated by the cAMP/PKA/KLF4/PMP22 axis, thereby alleviating proinflammatory responses within atherosclerotic plaques. Blockade of PMP22 using siRNA-loaded liposomes protected GPSM1 overexpression mice from atherosclerosis. Furthermore, a small-molecule compound inhibiting GPSM1 function could suppress atherosclerosis in vivo. In conclusion, our findings establish that GPSM1 is a regulator of atherosclerosis development and targeting GPSM1 might be a promising therapy against atherosclerosis.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 48
Published December 02, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (15)

Y

Yuemei Zhang

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes

Y

Yuxin Cao

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes

Y

Yongxin Sun

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University

C

Chenxia Zhou

Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine

X

Xiaorui Lyu

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes

D

Daixi Wang

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes

J

Jiangfei Zheng

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes

Y

Yuxin Shu

L

Lijun Yao

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Shanghai Clinical Centre for Diabetes

R

Rong Zhang

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China

J

Jingyong Li

Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

F

Feng Jiang

State Key Laboratory of Integrated Optoelectronics, JLU Region, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China

X

Xiang Cheng

J

Jing Yan

C

Cheng Hu