title: Widespread vascular production of C-reactive protein (CRP) and a relationship between serum CRP, plaque CRP and intimal hypertrophy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. awilson@cvmed.stanford.edu
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Whitbourn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gurry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yii
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Triggle
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002097:C-Reactive Protein