title: The role of p21-activated kinase in the initiation of atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  p21-activated kinase (PAK) has been implicated in the inflammatory activation of endothelial cells by disturbed fluid shear stress, which is the initiating stimulus in atherosclerosis. The study addresses whether PAK1 contributes to inflammatory marker expression in endothelial cells at atherosclerosis-susceptible regions of arteries in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aortas from WT and PAK1-/- C57BL/6J mice on a normal chow diet were fixed, dissected and processed for immunohistochemistry using a panel of inflammatory markers. We visualized and quantified staining in the endothelium at the greater and lesser curvatures of the arch of aorta, as atherosclerosis-resistant and susceptible regions, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fibronectin, VCAM-1 and the activated RelA NF-κB subunit were localized to the lesser curvature and decreased in PAK1-/- mice. The activated RelB NF-κB subunit was also localized to the lesser curvature but was increased in PAK1-/- mice. Low levels of staining for ICAM-1 and the monocyte/macrophage marker Mac2 indicated that overall inflammation in this tissue was minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show that PAK1 has a significant pro-inflammatory function at atherosclerosis-prone sites in vivo. These effects are seen in young mice with very low levels of inflammation, suggesting that inflammatory activation of the endothelium is primarily biomechanical. Activation involves NF-κB, expression of leukocyte recruitment receptors and fibronectin deposition. These results support and extend in vitro studies demonstrating that PAK contributes to activation of inflammatory pathways in endothelial cells by fluid shear stress.
authors: Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Cardiovascular Research Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Jhaveri
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Debnath
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Chernoff
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sanders
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D051841:Transcription Factor RelB / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D037502:Galectin 3; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C497594:Relb protein, mouse; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D051841:Transcription Factor RelB; C515905:Pak1 protein, mouse; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases