[The role of activator protein-1 in unstable coronary atherosclerotic changes].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relation between activator protein-1 (AP-1) and coronary atherosclerotic changes and the potential role of AP-1 in the stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
142 patients were included in this study and divided into CHD group (107) and control group (35) according to coronary angiography (CAG). The CHD group was further divided into a stable angina pectoris (SAP) group (32) and an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) group (75) according to the clinical manifestations. In addition, the CHD group was divided into A type group, B type group and C type group according to the standard of ACC/AHA coronary change in 1988. Meanwhile, the CHD group was further divided into light stenosis group, moderate stenosis group and severe stenosis group according to the degree of coronary lesion. The lysate of cells was obtained through lysis of the leucocytes from peripheral blood with cell lysis buffer. The amount of Phospho-c-Jun in lysate was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were demonstrated with absorbance, which reflects the amount of AP-1.


RESULTS
The main coronary changes in the SAP group were A type (68.7%) and the changes were mainly of light degree (53.1%); the main coronary changes in the ACS group were B type (52.0%) or C type (37.3%) and the changes were mainly of heavy degree (66.7%). The absorbance of Phospho-c-Jun in CHD group was significantly higher than that in the control subjects (1.43 +/- 0.33 vs 0.71 +/- 0.13, P < 0.001). The absorbance of Phospho-c-Jun in the ACS group was significantly higher than that in the SAP group (1.56 +/- 0.28 vs 1.14 +/- 0.25, P < 0.001). The absorbance of Phospho-c-Jun increased gradually from A type group to C type group (1.18 +/- 0.27 vs 1.42 +/- 0.26 vs 1.71 +/- 0.27, P < 0.001) and from light stenosis group to severe stenosis group (1.09 +/- 0.20 vs 1.37 +/- 0. 26 vs 1.60 +/- 0.29, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant relationship between AP-1 and coronary atherosclerotic changes. AP-1 may be a factor that can predict coronary arteriosclerotic progression and stability of the plaque.
Miao
Gui-Hua
GH
Department of Cardiology, Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command, Kunming 650032, China.
Yang
Li-Xia
LX
Qi
Feng
F
Wang
Xian-Mei
XM
Shi
Yan-Kun
YK
Li
Ming-Qiu
MQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D016758:Genes, jun; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1