Overexpression of activated nuclear factor-kappa B in aorta of patients with coronary atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation is an established risk factor for atherosclerosis. In an inflammatory state, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) is frequently activated as a key transcription activator for the downstream responses.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of NF-kappaB in the aorta of patients with coronary atherosclerosis and its association with atherosclerotic risk factors.


METHODS
From 2004 to 2005, we collected a small piece of ascending aorta in the bypass procedure from patients (n = 31) undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The expression of NF-kappaB was determined by immunohistochemistry, and its transcriptional activity was evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Celiac aortic tissues from 4 subjects without known atherosclerosis through the kidney donation program were taken as control.


RESULTS
NF-kappaB was detectable in aortas from CABG patients with the transcriptional activities significantly increased. The relative level of aortic NF-kappaB expression was elevated in patients who were smokers or with hypertension. Spearman correlation revealed that aortic NF-kappaB expression had significant correlation with coronary severity scores (Gensini score, r = 0.608, P < .05). The NF-kappaB expression was positively correlated with the levels of blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), total cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < .05); but negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates a highly activated NF-kappaB in aortas from patients with coronary atherosclerosis, which may reflect overall arterial overinflammatory status. The findings of hyperactive NF-kappaB in aortas may provide a diagnostic parameter for the inflammation that is associated with and may cause atherosclerosis.
Zhang
Wei
W
Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, PR China.
Xing
Shan Shan
SS
Sun
Xue Lin
XL
Xing
Qi Chong
QC
D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D016328:NF-kappa B; D002784:Cholesterol