title: RhoA and Rac1 changes in the atherosclerotic lesions of WHHLMI rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The activation of RhoA and Rac1 is crucial for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study investigated the changes of unprocessed and mature forms of RhoA and Rac1 in the progression of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unprocessed and geranylgeranylated forms of RhoA and Rac1 in aortic atherosclerotic lesions were separated by the Triton X-114 partition method using Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHLMI) rabbits prone to myocardial infarction. The activation of RhoA and Rac1 was determined by membrane translocation and pull-down assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of unprocessed RhoA and Rac1 of the aortas were higher at 7 months than 3 months, accompanied by increased levels of total RhoA and Rac1. Membrane-bound RhoA and Rac1 levels of the aortas at 7 months were significantly increased compared with those at 3 months, consistent with the results of GTP-loading. Unprocessed and activated forms of RhoA and Rac1 had gradually decreas at 15 and 24 months compared to 7 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We show evidence of marked increases in unprocessed RhoA and Rac1 with enhanced activities in the progression of atherosclerosis in WHHLMI rabbits. This is important for better understanding of the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia-dependent atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Hematology, Fukushima Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohkawara
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uekita
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamioka
authors.forename: Yoh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takuwa
authors.forename: Tamio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teramoto
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Yasuchika
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeishi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017830:Octoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003902:Detergents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D017830:Octoxynol; C010615:Nonidet P-40; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein