Widespread vascular production of C-reactive protein (CRP) and a relationship between serum CRP, plaque CRP and intimal hypertrophy.
OBJECTIVE
Evidence of local vascular production and a relationship between serum hsCRP levels and tissue expression of CRP in subjects with vascular disease would support a direct role for CRP in atherosclerosis.


RESULTS
Vascular tissue from subjects undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABGS) (n=28) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) (n=25) were studied. Histological samples were assessed for intima-media ratio (IMR) and CRP by immunohistochemistry. CRP mRNA was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. CRP mRNA was seen in all plaques, non-atherosclerotic artery and atrium but no difference in mRNA expression was seen between plaque and non-atherosclerotic tissue. Serum hsCRP correlated with IMR (r=0.64, p=0.001) in non-atherosclerotic arteries and with plaque CRP staining (r=0.57, p=0.009) independent of age, BMI, lipids, diabetes and blood pressure. In a separate patient series, serum hsCRP was measured in aortic and coronary sinus blood from subjects undergoing CABGS or angiography (n=54). There was a coronary circulation hsCRP gradient ([mean+/-S.E.M.] aortic CRP 4.3mg/l+/-0.8 versus coronary sinus 5.8+/-1.2mg/l, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Widespread vascular CRP mRNA expression, a correlation between serum hsCRP, intimal hypertrophy and plaque CRP, and a coronary hsCRP gradient suggest vascular secretion may contribute to serum CRP levels.
Wilson
A M
AM
University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. awilson@cvmed.stanford.edu
Swan
J D
JD
Ding
H
H
Zhang
Y
Y
Whitbourn
R J
RJ
Gurry
J
J
Yii
M
M
Wilson
A C
AC
Hill
M
M
Triggle
C
C
Best
J D
JD
Jenkins
A J
AJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000378:metabolism; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002097:C-Reactive Protein