Impaired AMPK activity contributes to the inflammatory phenotype and the reduced phagocytosis capacity of VASP-deficient macrophages

Macrophage polarization plays an important role in tissue regeneration. Numerous factors and signaling molecules affect polarization processes. Here we investigated the consequences of the genetic deletion of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), which increases macrophage M1 polarization through augmented signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) signaling, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which attenuates inflammation by inhibiting STAT1 expression and signaling. While a basal activity of AMPK (phosphorylation on Thr172) was detected in macrophages from wild-type mice, AMPK phosphorylation was significantly reduced in VASP-deficient M1 macrophages in vitro and the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-1β was increased in these cells. Consistent with the role of AMPK in macrophage phagocytosis, VASP -/- macrophage phagocytosis was also significantly impaired. Interestingly, impaired phagocytosis could be rescued by exogenous activation of AMPK. Mechanistically, we found that VASP binds directly to protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 6 (PP1-R6) and we hypothesize that VASP-binding to PP1- R6/PP1 limits the PP1-dependent de-phosphorylation of AMPK in wild-type cells. Conversely, AMPK dephosphorylation by the PP1-R6/PP1 complex is enhanced in the absence of VASP. In summary, we have identified a link between VASP and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, which may contribute to the pro-inflammatory phenotype of VASP-deficient macrophages.