Decreased expression of P54(nrb) /NonO correlates with collagen deposition and fibrosis in human aortic dissection.
OBJECTIVE
Aortic dissection (AD) is characterized by changes in the extracellular matrix, including fibrosis with collagen production. P54(nrb) /NonO is known to be involved in collagen formation. In this study, we examined whether AD is associated with abnormal P54(nrb) /NonO expression.


RESULTS
Aortic specimens and serum were obtained from 10 patients with AD and 10 controls. In-vitro cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) were obtained from organ donors. P54(nrb) /NonO protein and mRNA levels were determined by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (quantitative real-time RT-PCR). To evaluate collagen expression, we stained tissue sections with Masson's trichrome. Serum concentration of TNF-α was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Aortic P54(nrb) /NonO protein and mRNA were decreased in AD patients, compared with controls. Decreased P54(nrb) /NonO mRNA correlated significantly with increased collagen deposition and fibrosis in AD aortas. In VSMCs and AFs from normal human aortas, P54(nrb) /NonO was expressed strongly and localized to the nucleus.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with AD exhibited significantly decreased expression of P54(nrb) /NonO. The significant correlation between P54(nrb) /NonO and collagen may point to novel thinking about collagen metabolism research in AD aorta.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, China.
Zongli
Z
Ren
Zhiwei
Z
Wang
Zhipeng
Z
Hu
Xiaoping
X
Hu
Hao
H
Zhang
Hongbing
H
Wu
Rui
R
Hu
Huan
H
Liu
D000328:Adult; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D034521:Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D050810:Octamer Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C083214:NONO protein, human; D034521:Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins; D050810:Octamer Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003094:Collagen
P54nrb/NonO; aortic dissection; collagen; fibrosis