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Caloric Restriction Promotes Resolution of Atherosclerosis in Obese Mice, while Weight Regain Accelerates its Progression

Bianca Scolaro,¹ Franziska Krautter,¹ Emily J. Brown,¹ Aleepta Guha Ray,² Rotem Kalev-Altman,² Marie Petitjean,¹ Sofie Delbare,¹ Casey Donahoe,¹ Stephanie Pena,¹ Michela L. Garabedian,¹ Cyrus A. Nikain,¹ Maria Laskou,¹ Ozlem Tufanli,¹ Carmen Hannemann,¹ Myriam Aouadi,³ Ada Weinstock,² and Edward A. Fisher¹

Published July 8, 2025 - More info

While weight loss is highly recommended for those with obesity, >60% will regain their lost weight. This weight cycling is associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, relative to never having lost weight. How weight loss/regain directly influence atherosclerotic inflammation is unknown. Thus, we studied short-term caloric restriction (stCR) in obese hypercholesterolemic mice, without confounding effects from changes in diet composition. Weight loss was found to promote atherosclerosis resolution independent of plasma cholesterol. From single-cell RNA-sequencing and subsequent mechanistic studies, this can be partly attributed to a unique subset of macrophages accumulating with stCR in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and atherosclerotic plaques. These macrophages, distinguished by high expression of Fcgr4, help to clear necrotic cores in atherosclerotic plaques. Conversely, weight regain (WR) following stCR accelerated atherosclerosis progression with disappearance of Fcgr4+ macrophages from eWAT and plaques. Furthermore, WR caused reprogramming of immune progenitors, sustaining hyper-inflammatory responsiveness. In summary, we have developed a model to investigate the inflammatory effects of weight cycling on atherosclerosis and the interplay between adipose tissue, bone marrow, and plaques. The findings suggest potential approaches to promote atherosclerosis resolution in obesity and weight cycling through induction of Fcgr4+ macrophages and inhibition of immune progenitor reprogramming.

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