Measures of high-density lipoprotein function in men and women with severe aortic stenosis

Background Calcification of the aortic valve is a common heart valve disorder, in some cases leading to clinically impactful severe aortic stenosis (AS). Sex-specific differences in aortic valve calcification (ACV) exist, with women having a lower burden of calcification than men as measured by computed tomography; however, the pathophysiological mechanism that leads to these differences remains unclear. Methods Using cultured human Tamm-Horsfall protein 1 (THP-1) macrophages and human aortic valve interstitial cells, the effects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles isolated from the plasma of men and women with severe AS were studied for cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC). Results HDL-CEC was assessed in 46 patients with severe AS, n = 30 men, n = 16 women. ATP-Binding Cassette A1 (ABCA1)-mediated HDL-CEC was measured from human cultured THP-1 macrophages to plasma HDL samples. Women with severe AS had more ABCA1-mediated HDL-CEC, as compared to men (8.50 ± 3.90% cpm vs. 6.80 ± 1.50% cpm, P = 0.04). HDL pre-β1 and α-particles were higher in woman than in men by spectral density, (pre-β1 HDL, 20298.29 ± 1076.15 vs. 15,661.74 ± 789.00, P = 0.002, and α-HDL, 63006.35 ± 756.81 vs. 50,447.00 ± 546.52, P = 0.03). Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase conversion of free cholesterol into cholesteryl esters was higher in women than men (16.44 ± 9.11%/h vs. 12.00 ± 8.07%/h, P = 0.03). Conclusions Sex-specific changes in various parameters of HDL-CEC were found in patients with severe AS. Sex-based modifications in HDL functionality by HDL-CEC might account for the reduced burden of calcification in women vs. men with severe AS. Therefore, future studies should target sex-related pathways in AS to help to improve understanding and treatment of AS. Graphical abstract Sex specifc differences in AVC and differences associated with HDL function in men and women with severe AS. When compared to men, women had higher preβ-HDL and α-HDL migrating particles, higher cholesterol efflux to HDL, and higher lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity, possibly indicating that improved reverse cholesterol transport may be protective against worsened calcification. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12944-022-01653-7.


Introduction
Aortic stenosis (AS) disease is one of the most common valvular diseases associated with age [1,2]. Over the past 30 years, the global prevalence of calcific aortic valve disease-associated deaths has increased [3]. There is no medical therapy to slow the progression of AS, at present. Patients with severe AS are treated with either surgical valve or transcatheter prosthesis [4]. Aortic valve calcification (AVC) shares several pathophysiologic resemblances with atherosclerosis, including the migration of inflammatory cells into tissue and the development of calcium deposits [5][6][7]. Clinical and Mendelian randomization studies affirm similarities between AVC and atherosclerosis, suggesting overlapping causal risk factors [8,9]. Male sex, elevated serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, age, elevated lipoprotein (Lp) (a), hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, and smoking are all associated with AS [9][10][11]. Several randomized clinical trials of lipid-lowering therapy with statins indicated no effect on valve structure, function, or calcification. This is potentially because statins increase Lp (a), and effective medical therapy to prevent the progression of AVC remains elusive [8]. Women with severe AS are known to have a lesser burden of calcification than men as measured by computed tomography and lower valve weight on examination after surgical explant [4,[12][13][14][15]. Some potential sex-specific mechanisms which might affect calcification involve the pro-calcific effect of testosterone, altered inflammatory responses, as well as differential expression of calcification inhibitor proteins [16][17][18]. Limited evidence suggests no link between HDL function and AS [19]. Since AS is more prevalent in men than in women, evaluation of AS by sex may help to understand differences in the burden of the disease. ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), as a measurement of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) functionality, is associated with protection against cardiovascular events [20][21][22][23]. ABCA1 is a membrane transporter that promotes cellular cholesterol efflux by transfer of free cholesterol and phospholipid to apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, an early step in nascent HDL formation which is atheroprotective [24]. Whether variation in HDL-CEC, HDL particles size (nm), or protein composition slow the development of AS is unknown. One animal study demonstrated regression in AS severity with apo A-I mimetic peptide therapy [25]. Other studies have shown that HDL might play a role in AS, and HDL-associated proteins have been detected in AS tissue [19,[26][27][28]. The relationship of HDL-CEC to AS is under-studied. The present study hypothesized that HDL-CEC might be 1) dysregulated from calcified human aortic valve interstitial cells (HAVICs), (the main cell type involved in the progression of AVC), and 2) a protective mechanism that is upregulated in women with AS vs. men.

Material and methods
Human aortic valve interstitial cells, isolation, and culture Plasma samples were obtained from patients with severe AS (n = 46) on the day of valve replacement. Blood specimens were obtained from the study subjects by venipuncture; plasma was separated (2000 g, 4°C for 20 minutes) and placed in − 80°C in 0.5 mL aliquots until use. Control HDL was collected from 6 healthy men and women, pooled, and stored at − 80°C until use in optimizing the HDL-CEC assay kinetics from Tamm-Horsfall protein 1 (THP-1) macrophages and HAVICs. In this study, human primary calcified and non-calcified cells were obtained from explanted aortic valves of men with severe AS, as previously reported [29]. Briefly, fresh aortic valve (AV) leaflets were washed with 1x Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) buffer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass), and manually debrided to remove endothelial cells. The digested tissue mixture was centrifuged at 500 g at 4°C for 10 min, and the supernatant was transferred into a new tube and centrifuged at 1000 g at 4°C for 10 min. Cell pellets were suspended in DMEM high glucose, 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and seeded in culture flasks until confluence (which took 9 to 14 days). HAVICs in passages 2 to 5 were used for all experiments. Cells were trypsinized and plated for each experiment at a density of 6.0 × 10 4 cells in a 24well plate. Participants provided informed consent. The study was approved by the McGill University Institutional Review Board (IRB). The lipid characteristics, the ejection fraction (%), the maximum pressure across the valve (Pmax), and the mean pressure across the valve (Pmean) are noted in Table 1.

Immunofluorescence
To demonstrate ABCA1 upregulation in HAVICs within the HDL-CEC process, calcified and non-calcified HAVICs were treated with 2 μCi/mL 3

Western blotting analysis
Lysis buffer (20 mM Tris, 5 mM EDTA, and 5 mM EGTA; pH 7.5) containing protease inhibitor mixture (one tablet/50 mL, Roche) was used to lysis HAVICs. The suspension was subjected to further lysis in the presence of cOmplete™ EDTA-free Protease Inhibitor Cocktail (Sigma Aldrich, Ontario, Canada) followed by 1500 g centrifugation at 4°C for 10 min. Samples were immunoblotted using affinity-purified human anti-ABCA1 (Novus Biological, Ontario, Canada). Membrane pore size 0.45 μm (Amersham, Darmstadt, Germany) was re-probed with Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (Abcam, Ontario, Canada) as a loading control. Molecular weight protein standard

Characterization of nascent HDL particles
Two-dimensional non denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGGE) was performed to characterize apoA-I-containing particles from HDL isolated from men (n = 10) and women (n = 10) as previously reported [32]. The conditioned medium from HAVICs exposed to HDL was concentrated by a size-exclusion centrifugal filter (molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) 30,000; Amicon, Merck Millipore Co., Cork, Ireland) that separates between lipid-free apoA-I and other lipidated (LpA-I) particles. ApoA-I proteins were probed with an anti-apoA-I antibody (Biodesign, Meridian Life Science, Tennessee, USA). A standard native high-molecular-weight (4-17.0 nm) from (GE Healthcare, UK) was used in each gel and revealed by Ponceau S sodium salt.

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity assay
A proteoliposome substrate of apoA-I: 3 [H]-cholesterol nascent HDL(nHDL)-apo A-I was prepared to determine LCAT activity in plasma samples, as previously described [33]. nHDL-apo A-I particles were prepared after radiolabeling of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells with 3 [H]-cholesterol for 24 h in DMEM 10% FBS. Afterward, cells were incubated with DMEM/BSA for 6 h and then incubated with 15 mL of DMEM/BSA containing 10 nM mifepristone (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) and 10 μg/ mL apo A-I for 18 h. The medium was centrifuged at 1500 g at 4°C for 10 min to remove cell debris. Lipid free apoA-I was removed by a 50 kDa column and dialyzed extensively against phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The substrate (nHDL-apo A-I) was used to determine LCAT activity as the fractional esterification rate in plasma from AS patients. The lipidated HDL particles were verified by qualitative 2D-PAGGE before and after incubation in total plasma (Fig. 1A). LCAT activity in nHDL-apoA-I was used as positive control and LCAT inhibitor 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), 5 mM from (Sigma-Aldrich, Ontario, Canada) was used as a negative control [34]. Cellular lipids were extracted and 3 [H]-cholesterol and 3 [H]-cholesteryl esters were separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Lipid species (free cholesterol and cholesteryl ester) were visualized with iodine vapor (Fisher Scientific, Ontario, Canada), and lipids spots were scraped into liquid scintillating vials and were assayed for radioactivity. The LCAT activity was calculated as the fractional esterification rate of cholesterol (%/h) in plasma, expressed as the ratio of radioactive unesterified to radioactive esterified cholesterol on nHDL [35].

Statistical analyses
Variables are presented as mean ± standard deviation for normally distributed variables or median and interquartile range for non-normally distributed variables. A nonparametric test (Mann-Whitney) was used to compare skewed distributions and the unpaired Student's t-test was used to compare the differences between normally distributed groups. The data were carried out by using GraphPad Prism version 6 (La Jolla, California). P < 0.05 (2-tailed) is statistically significant.

Results
HDL functionality is reduced in men as compared to women with severe AS Women with severe AS were similar in age to men with comparable Lp (a) levels, but were more likely to be overweight, and had higher triglycerides and LDL cholesterol ( Table 1). Quantification of apoA-Icontaining HDL subpopulations by spectral density (Fig.  1A, B) showed that women had more abundant pre-β1and α-HDL than men (Fig. 1C) by spectral density and size. Women with severe AS had statistically significant higher ABCA1-mediated efflux to plasma HDL from stimulated human THP-1 macrophages than men (Fig. 1D). LCAT activity using an artificial proteoliposome substrate of (apo) A-I: 3 [H]-cholesterol: lecithin (Fig. 1E), was higher in women with severe AS compared to men (Fig. 1F). Obesity has been associated with differences in HDL-CEC [36], but in this small sample, CE was poorly correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.36, P = 0.86).

Calcification of HAVICs reduces cholesterol efflux to control plasma HDL
The HAVICs were used as an in vitro model to understand the effect of calcification on CE, as this cell type is central to the progression of AVC [27]. CEC from HAVICs and THP-1 macrophages was optimized to determine the optimal concentration and timing of incubation with purified control plasma HDL (Supplemental Material, Fig. 1A-D). An HDL concentration of 5% (Supplemental Material, Fig. 1A) and 2.8% (Supplemental Material, Fig. 1C) and 8 h (Supplemental Material, Fig.  1B, D) were considered optimal for HAVICs and THP-1 macrophages, respectively. The ability of calcified HAVICs to perform cholesterol efflux and generate nascent HDL particles from incubation with plasma HDL were also characterized. HDL-CEC values were compared from calcified HAVICs and non-calcified HAVICs incubated with control plasma HDL and analyzed nascent particles by 2D-PAGGE (Fig. 3A, B, and C). Cholesterol efflux from calcified HAVICs to increasing doses of control plasma HDL was decreased as compared to non-calcified cells (Fig. 3A, inset). This was associated with reduced α-nascent HDL particles when compared to non-calcified HAVICs (Fig. 3B, C right panel). During cholesterol efflux from THP-1 and HAVICs, calcified HAVICs performed cholesterol efflux with lower K m efficiency and less accelerated V max vs. non-calcified cells or THP-1 macrophages (Supplemental Material, Table 1).

Discussion
In this study, ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux from calcified HAVICs, the main cell type implicated in AVC, as well as sex-specific differences in HDL particle size, HDL-CEC, and LCAT activity from men and women with severe AS were evaluated. Of relevance, expression of ABCA1 in calcified HAVICs was reduced as compared to non-calcified cells and they had slower, and less efficient cholesterol efflux to control plasma HDL.
In the present study women with severe AS had more pre-β1 nascent HDL particles, which are known to interact well with ABCA1 to modulate cholesterol efflux [38]. Herein, women with severe AS had higher HDL-CEC and LCAT activity. Evidence indicates a delayed rate and decreased absolute amount of valvular calcification in women as compared to men with severe AS, but the reasons for this are not well elucidated [4,13,14]. AS shares common risk factors and has similar pathophysiology to coronary artery disease. Decreased cholesterol efflux from calcified HAVICs has been documented, but whether this occurs through ABCA1, other transporters, or alternative signaling pathways is unclear [39]. For instance, interferonγ receptor 1 expression and ERK/HIF-1α signaling were greater in HAVICs from men, a possible mechanism for amplified calcification, while matrix Gla protein, an inhibitor of calcification, and delayed osteogenesis were detected in aortic valve tissue from women [16,17]. Calcified HAVICs have lower cholesterol efflux and accordingly lower ABCA1 protein expression than non-calcified HAVICs. Therefore, decreased expression of ABCA1 by calcified HAVICs may lead to reduced efficiency and rate of CEC (Graphical Abstract). Higher ABCA1-mediated efflux was previously linked to decreased AVC through administration of liver X receptor agonist T1317 [40]. Boosting ABCA1 expression reduced calcium and lipid deposition in the AV from hypercholesterolemic mice in vivo [40]. Sex-specific differences in LCAT activity have been previously documented in individuals with cardiovascular disease, and observations in the present study are now extend this to severe AS [41]. Increased LCAT activity is beneficial in reverse cholesterol transport because it remodels nascent HDL to more mature particles, which return cholesterol to the liver for excretion [42]. Specifically, α-HDL subspecies (12 to 17 nm), considered to be atheroprotective, are generally increased in women and are associated with higher LCAT activity [43]. Differences in HDL functionality between men and women might explain, in part, why women have less calcification in severe AS, but HDL may have other beneficial effects. To this end, HDL has been reported as having a direct anti-calcifying impact on human AV [26]. HDL stimulates osteoprotegerin in AV, a decoy receptor for receptor activator of nuclear factorkappa B ligand (RANKL), which inhibits differentiation of cells into osteoclasts. HDL also reduces tumor necrosis factor-α, a driver of calcification, in AV [26]. HDL particles also carry a vast proteome which may account for the spectrum of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as cholesterol acceptors, and future studies should focus on these properties in relation to protection against AV calcification [44]. Estrogen may protect against the development of valvular calcification, which could account for delayed accumulation in women as compared to men. Testosterone influenced the onset of AVC in an LDLr −/− /Apo B 100/100 / IGF-II mouse model, and sex-based differences in calcification were decreased with castration [18]. In relation to ABCA1, serum 17β-estradiol doses does not appear to influence efflux [45,46]. An estrogen effect would not account for changes in HDL functionality in the present study, as women were of postmenopausal age. A previous study investigating the role of HDL in AS showed no difference in HDL measures between AS cases vs. age and sexmatched controls but did not stratify by sex or compare men and women with severe AS [19]. A Finnish study evaluating HDL-CEC in a small sample of healthy men and women demonstrated no difference by sex or menopausal status [47]. However, the study did not measure ABCA1mediated HDL-CEC, but rather, total efflux to HDL from unstimulated cells, and women were grouped as pre-or post-menopausal by age, and their status was possibly mis- classified [47]. This study adds evidence to existing knowledge suggesting sex-specific dysfunctionality of HDL in severe AS in men as compared to women [13]. This was also reported more recently in moderate-to-severe AS, though not stratified by sex [30]. Another in vitro study showed that rodent valvular interstitial cells (VICs) behaved differently in a hormone-free environment, with VICs derived from males calcifying more extensively than VICs derived from females [48]. Data from this study, in combination with emerging evidence, supports that there are sex-specific modifications in HDL measures which might explain biological differences in the severity of calcification between men and women.

Study strengths and limitations
The relationship of HDL-CEC with calcific aortic valve disease has not been well studied. Higher HDL-CEC in women may be an explanation for the lower calcific load of an equivalent clinical severity of AS. The major limitation of the present study is its small study sample and lack of HAVIC cultured cells from women to compare with those of men. Also, non-calcified areas of AS tissue were used to compare with calcified areas, which might have similar inflammatory or oxidative processes. Non-calcified valve tissue can also be obtained from cadavers or heart transplants, but proteins may be degraded post-mortem and transplant candidates likely have different demographic and clinical characteristics than AS patients, thus, the best control for AS tissue and cell culture studies is unclear. Lastly, additional research is required to assess the causality of the observed relationship and these findings would be strengthened through validation in larger cohorts.

Conclusion
This study shows that HDL-CEC is significantly impaired in men with severe AS when compared to women. In addition, HDL-CEC from HAVICs supports a possible link between calcification and impaired ability to promote ABCA1-mediated efflux and HDL biogenesis. These data support future sex-stratified studies of the role of efflux in protection against AS incidence and progression. These findings need to be further linked to mechanisms of delayed calcification in women with severe AS and require validation in a larger cohort, perhaps with sub-stratification by prevalent co-morbidities to understand if there are additional interactions by age, and presence of atherosclerosis, or by varying degrees of calcification. In conclusion, sex differences in ABCA1mediated HDL-CEC should be evaluated in larger studies of AVC progression and severe AS.