title: Disruption of the cathepsin K gene reduces atherosclerosis progression and induces plaque fibrosis but accelerates macrophage foam cell formation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cathepsin K (catK), a lysosomal cysteine protease, was identified in a gene-profiling experiment that compared human early plaques, advanced stable plaques, and advanced atherosclerotic plaques containing a thrombus, where it was highly upregulated in advanced stable plaques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To assess the function of catK in atherosclerosis, catK(-/-)/apolipoprotein (apo) E(-/-) mice were generated. At 26 weeks of age, plaque area in the catK(-/-)/apoE(-/-) mice was reduced (41.8%) owing to a decrease in the number of advanced lesions as well as a decrease in individual advanced plaque area. This suggests an important role for catK in atherosclerosis progression. Advanced plaques of catK(-/-)/apoE(-/-) mice showed an increase in collagen content. Medial elastin fibers were less prone to rupture than those of apoE(-/-) mice. Although the relative macrophage content did not differ, individual macrophage size increased. In vitro studies of bone marrow derived-macrophages confirmed this observation. Scavenger receptor-mediated uptake (particularly by CD36) of modified LDL increased in the absence of catK, resulting in an increased macrophage size because of increased cellular storage of cholesterol esters, thereby enlarging the lysosomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A deficiency of catK reduces plaque progression and induces plaque fibrosis but aggravates macrophage foam cell formation in atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. E.Lutgens@path.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lutgens
authors.forename: S P M
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lutgens
authors.forename: B C G
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heeneman
authors.forename: M M J
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gijbels
authors.forename: M P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: de Winther
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frederik
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Made
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daugherty
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sijbers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saftig
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: M J A P
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Daemen
authors.forename: K B J M
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Cleutjens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000502:physiology; D056657:Cathepsin K; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D003094:Collagen; D002403:Cathepsins; C534130:CTSK protein, human; D056657:Cathepsin K; C534132:Ctsk protein, mouse