title: Overexpression of interleukin-1β and interferon-γ in type I thoracic aortic dissections and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms: possible correlation with matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and apoptosis of aortic media cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the expression of interleukin-1β and interferon-γ and their possible roles in aortic dissections and aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aortic specimens were obtained from patients with type I thoracic aortic dissection, ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms, and control organ donors. The expression of interleukin-1β, interferon-γ, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and signal transduction factors phospho-p38 and phosphorylated c-jun N-terminal kinase (phospho-JNK) were detected by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to detect apoptosis of media cells. The correlation of these factors and apoptosis was also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apoptosis in the media of thoracic aortic dissection and in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms was dramatically higher than in the control group. The expression of interleukin-1β gradually increased from the control group, thoracic aortic dissection to ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (p < 0.01, respectively). The expression of interferon-γ and matrix metalloproteinase-9 was significantly increased in the media of thoracic aortic dissection and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms compared with the control group (p < 0.01, respectively). There were positive correlations between interleukin-1β versus matrix metalloproteinase-9, interleukin-1β versus phospho-p38 in thoracic aortic dissection (p < 0.01, respectively), and interferon-γ versus matrix metalloproteinase-9, interferon-γ versus phospho-JNK, interferon-γ versus apoptosis, and interleukin-1β versus apoptosis in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (p = 0.02, 0.02, p < 0.01, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interleukin-1β and interferon-γ might effect the formation of thoracic aortic dissection and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms possibly through the up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and the apoptosis of media cells in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming-fang
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Si-li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Qing-sheng
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jun-min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Yi-fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Zai-ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015415:Biomarkers; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule