title: Increased PrPC expression correlates with endoglin (CD105) positive microvessels in advanced carotid lesions.
abstract: Normal cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) has multiple functions but its role in the development of atherosclerosis has not been studied. Our pilot microarray data showed increased expression of PrP(C) in tissue samples of complicated carotid lesions. Therefore in this study, we aimed to investigate its localisation within atherosclerotic arteries and its concentration in patient plasma. PrP(C) expression was examined using an enzyme immunometric assay (EIA) in plasma from patients undergoing endarterectomy. Carotid specimens and control vascular transplants were studied for PrP(C) and CD105 (endoglin, a marker of active vessels) expression by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. Patients with carotid disease had higher levels of plasma PrP(C) than the control group [4.35 ng/ml (n = 22; 3.1-5.3) vs. 1.95 ng/ml (n = 21; 1.1-2.5), P < 0.001]. Furthermore, CD105-positive plaques had higher PrP(C) expression which colocalized with CD105 in neovessels. There was a significant correlation between mRNA expression of PrP(C) and CD105 in tested plaques (P < 0.001; r = 0.7) supporting our immunohistochemical findings. We conclude that PrP(C) is expressed in carotid specimens and may be associated with neovessel growth or survival in these plaques. Our results suggest a role for PrP(C) in modulating neovessel formation in complicated plaques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stroke Unit, University Hospital of Bellvitge (HUB), Fundacio IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krupinski
authors.forename: Marta M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Turu
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luque
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Badimon
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slevin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D018621:PrPC Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface