title: Expression of cartilage-specific markers in calcified and non-calcified atherosclerotic lesions.
abstract: Recently, molecular mechanisms resembling endochondral ossification were suggested to be important for atherosclerotic vessel calcification. The aim of this study was to investigate in a series of human atherosclerotic (non-diabetic) lesions of the crural arteries the distribution and expression of classical marker genes of the endochondral ossification pathway. Immunostaining for marker proteins S-100 protein and collagen types II and X were performed on atherosclerotic lesions of different grades (according to Stary). Quantitative real-time PCR for human COL1A1, COL2A1, COL10A1, SOX9, and BMP-2 was applied on RNA isolated from atherosclerotic arteries. In most samples, no expression of collagen type II and S-100 protein was found. Exceptionally, S-100 protein and type II collagen expression was observed very focally within advanced atherosclerotic plaques. Type X collagen was not detected in any of the lesions investigated. Overall, in our study we found no evidence that chondrogenic differentiation pathways are generally active in atherosclerotic plaque formation. In particular type X collagen, one important molecule in cartilage calcification, was not expressed in any of the investigated specimens. Occasionally, however, chondrocytic differentiation markers occur within atherosclerotic lesions. This most likely represents a metaplastic event associated, but not causative for atherosclerotic vessel degeneration and calcification.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstr. 26, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: Thomas.Aigner@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neureiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Câmpean
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstr. 26, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soder
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002114:Calcinosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024121:Collagen Type X / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D024121:Collagen Type X; D009418:S100 Proteins