Expanding Role of Delta-Like 4 Mediated Notch Signaling in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases

Abstract

Cardiometabolic disease, a global health threat, has been linked to chronic inflammation, in which activated macrophages play a key role. Macrophages are highly heterogeneous hematopoietic cells found in nearly every tissue in the body. Various stimuli recruit monocytes into the cardiovascular system and metabolic organs, where they differentiate to macrophages, and activate these pro-inflammatory phagocytes, leading to the initiation and development of inflammation in these organs. Key regulators of macrophage activation therefore may serve as therapeutic targets for cardiometabolic disease. The Notch signaling pathway, involving 5 ligands and 4 receptors, regulates the differentiation of various cell types during development, and also contributes to the disease processes in adults. We found that the Notch ligand delta-like 4 (Dll4) activates macrophages in vitro as determined by the induction of genes and pathways associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Our recent study demonstrated in vivo that blockade of Dll4 by a neutralizing antibody attenuates key features typical of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, such as accumulation of activated macrophages in arteries and fat; chronic atherosclerosis; arterial and valvular calcification; insulin resistance; and fatty liver. These results suggest that Dll4-mediated Notch signaling participates in the shared disease mechanisms for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. This review summarizes the role of macrophages and Dll4/Notch signaling in the development of inflammation in both the cardiovascular system and metabolic organs.  (Circ J 2013; 77: 2462–2468)