Implications of proprotein Convertase 5 (PC5) in the arterial restenotic process in a porcine model.
BACKGROUND
Convertases (PCs), especially PC5, have been detected in various layers of atherosclerotic and injured arteries. We postulate that PCs could be important enzymes in vascular disease thus studied PC5 expression in a porcine balloon and stent coronary arterial vascular injury model.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization of slides of porcine arteries from paraffin blocks were studied 1, 7, 14 and 28 days post injury.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemistry studies show expression of PC5 in control artery endothelial cells, weak medial smooth muscle cell (SMC) staining and strong staining in the small nerves of the adventitia. At 7, 14 and 28 days postinjury, there is strong positive PC5 staining of the neointimal cells and the adventitial vasa vasora and myofibroblasts. Colocalization immunohistochemistry confirms the smooth muscle staining properties of the myofibroblast-like cells in both these locations. Single-label immunohistochemistry studies show the same cells to stain strongly positive with TGF-B, PDGF, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9.


CONCLUSIONS
PC5 may be involved in the process of arterial injury via its effect on growth factors (GFs) and mediators. These preliminary observations suggest that the convertases, especially PC5, represent a target for future study in the process of arterial injury.
Veinot
John P
JP
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Anatomical Pathology, Ottawa Hospital, 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 4E9. jpveinot@ottawahospital.on.ca
Prichett-Pejic
Wendy
W
Picard
Pierre
P
Parks
William
W
Schwartz
Robert
R
Seidah
Nabil G
NG
Chretien
Michel
M
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D045702:Proprotein Convertase 5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine
D015415:Biomarkers; D045702:Proprotein Convertase 5