title: Local overexpression of toll-like receptors at the vessel wall induces atherosclerotic lesion formation: synergism of TLR2 and TLR4.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerosis is now considered as a chronic inflammatory disease, and inflammation is closely related to immune systems, which consist of innate-immunity and adaptive-immunity. Recently, toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been identified as key components of innate-immunity. We examined the role of local expressions of TLRs at the vessel wall in atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We transfected cDNA encoding human TLR2 and TLR4 into the carotid arterial vessel wall of rabbits fed high-cholesterol diets with the use of HVJ-liposome. The rabbits were transfected with (1) pCMV-beta-gal, (2) empty vector, (3) TLR2, (4) TLR4, (5) TLR2+4. X-gal staining and immunohistochemical analysis showed that the transfected plasmids were mainly expressed in the media. Neither TLR2 nor TLR4 transfection induced significant augmentation of atherosclerosis. Transfection of TLR2- and TLR4-containing HVJ synergistically accelerated atherosclerosis and increased expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and MCP-1. Moreover, transfection of TLR2 and TLR4 resulted in synergistic activation of NF-kappaB at the vessel wall in vivo, and in vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expressions of both TLR2 and TLR4 at the vessel wall synergistically accelerated atherosclerosis. The present study revealed the role of TLRs expressed locally at the vessel wall in the early stage of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Tomofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takaya
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Rio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shiraki
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueyama
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Emoto
authors.forename: Nobutaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Seinosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawashima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4