Expression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 in human atherosclerotic carotid arteries.
OBJECTIVE
the preventive effect of acetylsalicylic acid in cardiovascular disease may be due to inhibition of platelet aggregation mediated by COX-1, but may in addition be due to anti-inflammatory effects by inhibition of COX-2. The objective of this study was to analyse the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in atherosclerotic and healthy vascular walls.


METHODS
the expression COX-1 and COX-2 was analysed in biopsies from human atherosclerotic carotid arteries and from healthy mammary arteries and saphenous veins.


METHODS
vascular biopsies were obtained from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy or coronary bypass surgery.


METHODS
RT-PCR was used for mRNA analysis and for localization of proteins we used immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
COX-2 was found in atherosclerotic plaques: in macrophages, in some smooth muscle cells and in endothelial cells of small vessels in the lesions. In non-atherosclerotic blood vessels, COX-2 was detected in the endothelium of the vasa vasorum in the adventitia. COX-1 was found in the endothelium in healthy and in atherosclerotic vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
the expression of COX-2 by inflammatory and vascular cells in atherosclerotic arteries suggests that products of this enzyme may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Stemme
V
V
Cardiovascular Research Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.
Swedenborg
J
J
Claesson
H
H
Hansson
G K
GK
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001706:Biopsy; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D001241:Aspirin