title: Elevated messenger RNA expression and plasma protein levels of osteopontin and matrix metalloproteinase types 2 and 9 in patients with ascending aortic aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ascending aortic aneurysms result from a degenerative process in the aortic wall, characterized by the loss of smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers. We hypothesized that there would be changes in plasma protein and aortic tissue messenger RNA levels of osteopontin, matrix metalloproteinase type 2, matrix metalloproteinase type 9, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases type 1 in ascending aortic aneurysm samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma, aortic tissue, and aortic mRNA samples were collected from patients with an ascending aortic aneurysm or an abdominal aortic aneurysm and from control individuals. Plasma protein levels of osteopontin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) types 2 and 9, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases type 1 were determined by quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Aortic mRNA levels of these same proteins were analyzed with the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and protein levels from the aortic tissues were assayed by immunostaining. Quantitative RT-PCR results were estimated by the normalized expression method (ΔΔCt).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma protein levels were significantly elevated for osteopontin, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in the samples of ascending and abdominal aortic aneurysm group compared with controls. Plasma protein levels of MMP-9 were higher in the nonoperated compared with the operated ascending aortic aneurysm group. Aortic osteopontin, MMP-2, and MMP-9 mRNA levels were increased for ascending aortic aneurysm samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals an important role of osteopontin, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the development of ascending and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. Electronic address: tuija.huusko@oulu.fi.
authors.forename: Tuija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huusko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuire
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salonurmi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Panu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taskinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liinamaa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tatu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Juvonen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostics, Department of Pathology, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Paavo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pääkkö
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savolainen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Sakari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000097:blood*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053495:Osteopontin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9