AUTHOR=Halterman Julia, Kwon H, Leitinger Norbert, Wamhoff Brian TITLE=NFAT5 expression in bone marrow-derived cells enhances atherosclerosis and drives macrophage migration JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology VOLUME=3 YEAR=2012 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2012.00313 DOI=10.3389/fphys.2012.00313 ISSN=1664-042X ABSTRACT=Objective: We have previously shown that the transcription factor, nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5), regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation, but the role of NFAT5 in atherosclerosis is unknown. Our main objective was to determine if NFAT5 expression in bone marrow (BM)-derived cells altered atherosclerotic development and macrophage function. Methods and Results: NFAT5+/−ApoE−/− mice were generated for in vivo atherosclerosis studies. Following high fat diet feeding, en face analysis of the thoracic aorta established that genome-wide NFAT5 haploinsufficiency reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation by 73%. BM transplant studies revealed that transplantation of NFAT5+/−ApoE−/− marrow into NFAT5+/+ApoE−/− mice resulted in a similar 86% reduction in lesion formation. In vitro functional analysis of BM-derived macrophages demonstrated that NFAT5 is required for macrophage migration, which is a key event in the propagation of atherosclerosis. Conclusion: We have identified NFAT5 in BM-derived cells as a positive regulator of atherosclerotic lesion formation and macrophage function in the vasculature.