Loss of collagen XVIII enhances neovascularization and vascular permeability in atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Plaque neovascularization is thought to promote atherosclerosis; however, the mechanisms of its regulation are not understood. Collagen XVIII and its proteolytically released endostatin fragment are abundant proteoglycans in vascular basement membranes and the walls of major blood vessels. We hypothesized that collagen XVIII in the aortic wall inhibits the proliferation and intimal extension of vasa vasorum.


RESULTS
To test our hypothesis, we bred collagen XVIII-knockout (Col18a1(-/-)) mice into the atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) strain. After 6 months on a cholesterol diet, aortas from ApoE(-/-);Col18a1(-/-) and ApoE(-/-);Col18a1(+/-) heterozygote mice showed increased atheroma coverage and enhanced lipid accumulation compared with wild-type littermates. We observed more extensive vasa vasorum and intimal neovascularization in knockout but not heterozygote aortas. Endothelial cells sprouting from Col18a1(-/-) aortas were increased compared with heterozygote and wild-type aortas. In contrast, vascular permeability of large and small blood vessels was enhanced with even heterozygous loss of collagen XVIII but was not suppressed by increasing serum endostatin to wild-type levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results identify a previously unrecognized function for collagen XVIII that maintains vascular permeability. Loss of this basement membrane proteoglycan enhances angiogenesis and vascular permeability during atherosclerosis by distinct gene-dose-dependent mechanisms.
Vascular Biology Research Program, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. karen.moulton@childrens.harvard.edu
Karen S
KS
Moulton
Bjorn R
BR
Olsen
Silvia
S
Sonn
Naomi
N
Fukai
David
D
Zurakowski
Xiaokun
X
Zeng
D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000633:toxicity; D043170:Collagen Type XVIII / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D018628:Gene Dosage; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D043170:Collagen Type XVIII; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A