Poster #054
Follistatin Regulation of Arginase 1 During Atherosclerosis
Mentors: Rajan Singh, PhD; PI: Rajan Singh, PhD
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by plaque buildup, oxidative stress, and immune dysfunction. Endothelial damage and unresolved inflammation worsen disease progression. Arginase 1 (Arg1), an enzyme expressed in macrophages, competes with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) for L-arginine, reducing nitric oxide levels and promoting efferocytosis. Follistatin, a glycoprotein that binds and inhibits TGF-β ligands such as activin, may regulate Arg1 expression, though this relationship is poorly understood. To explore this, Ldlr⁻/⁻ mice were injected with either AAV1-null or AAV1-FST344 and fed an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks. Liver and adipose tissues were harvested, lysed, and analyzed using SDS-PAGE and Western blot with Arg1 and GAPDH antibodies. Follistatin-treated mice showed elevated Arg1 expression in the liver and adipose tissue compared to the control. These findings suggest that follistatin promotes Arg1 expression and may enhance efferocytosis, supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent for resolving inflammation in atherosclerosis.