title: Inhibition of endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase increases atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability in mice.
abstract: The role of endocannabinoids such as anandamide during atherogenesis remains largely unknown. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) represents the key enzyme in anandamide degradation, and its inhibition is associated with subsequent higher levels of anandamide. Here, we tested whether selective inhibition of FAAH influences the progression of atherosclerosis in mice. Selective inhibition of FAAH using URB597 resulted in significantly increased plasma levels of anandamide compared to control, as assessed by mass spectrometry experiments in mice. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice were fed a high-fat, cholesterol-rich diet to induce atherosclerotic conditions. Simultaneously, mice received either the pharmacological FAAH inhibitor URB597 1mg/kg body weight (n=28) or vehicle (n=25) via intraperitoneal injection three times a week. After eight weeks, mice were sacrificed, and experiments were performed. Vascular superoxide generation did not differ between both groups, as measured by L012 assay. To determine whether selective inhibition of FAAH affects atherosclerotic plaque inflammation, immunohistochemical staining of the aortic root was performed. Atherosclerotic plaque formation, vascular macrophage accumulation, as well as vascular T cell infiltration did not differ between both groups. Interestingly, neutrophil cell accumulation was significantly increased in mice receiving URB597 compared to control. Vascular collagen structures in atherosclerotic plaques were significantly diminished in mice treated with URB597 compared to control, as assessed by picro-sirius-red staining. This was accompanied by an increased aortic expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9, as determined by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase does not influence plaque size but increases plaque vulnerability in mice.
authors.affiliation: Klinik II für Innere Medizin, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: felix.hoyer@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Friedrich Felix
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Hoyer
authors.affiliation: Klinik II für Innere Medizin, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.affiliation: Klinik II für Innere Medizin, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Slomka
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Zahn-, Mund-, und Kieferheilkunde, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kebschull
authors.affiliation: Institut für physiologische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Raissa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.affiliation: Institut für physiologische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Chemie und klinische Pharmakologie, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schott
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Chemie und klinische Pharmakologie, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lütjohann
authors.affiliation: Institut für molekulare Psychiatrie, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wojtalla
authors.affiliation: Institut für molekulare Psychiatrie, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Institut für molekulare Psychiatrie, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.affiliation: Klinik II für Innere Medizin, Universität Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nickenig
mesh_terms: D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002219:Carbamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000097:blood; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000097:blood; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D000099252:Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases
chemical_list: D000581:Amidohydrolases; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D001549:Benzamides; D002219:Carbamates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D013481:Superoxides; D000099252:Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases; C500528:cyclohexyl carbamic acid 3'-carbamoylbiphenyl-3-yl ester; C078814:anandamide
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Fatty acid amide hydrolase; URB597; Vascular inflammation