title: Altered expression of inflammation-related genes in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inflammation is a pivotal process in atherosclerosis development and progression, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely obscure. We have conducted an extensive expression study of atherosclerotic plaques to identify the inflammatory pathways involved in atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 11 human carotid plaques, their respective adjacent regions and 7 control arteries from different subjects. Expression of 92 genes was studied by TaqMan low-density array human inflammation panel. Human aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells were used for in vitro experiments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA levels of 44/92 genes (48%) differed significantly between the tissues examined (13 up-regulated and 31 down-regulated). Dysregulated genes encode molecules belonging to different functional classes although most of them encode enzymes involved in the eicosanoid synthesis pathway. The expression of PTGIS and PTGIR genes was decreased in human aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells stimulated with oxLDL and TNF-α.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study not only reveals several dysregulated genes in human lesions but also focuses the role played by the genes involved in the eicosanoid synthesis pathway during atherosclerotic development. The decrease of PTGIS and PTGIR expression after oxLDL treatment mirrors the decreased mRNA levels in atherosclerotic lesions versus control arteries, which suggests that oxidation is important for PTGIS and PTGIR regulation in human vessel cells during atherosclerosis development.
authors: IRCCS Fondazione SDN, Via Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy.
authors: Maria Donata
authors: MD
authors: Di Taranto
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Morgante
authors: Umberto Marcello
authors: UM
authors: Bracale
authors: Francesco Paolo
authors: FP
authors: D'Armiento
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Porcellini
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Bracale
authors: Giuliana
authors: G
authors: Fortunato
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Salvatore
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D007558:Italy; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000235:genetics; D044006:Receptors, Epoprostenol; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C113936:PTGIR protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D044006:Receptors, Epoprostenol; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; C472456:PTGIS protein, human