title: Increased expression of chitinase 3-like 1 in aorta of patients with atherosclerosis and suppression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice by chitinase 3-like 1 gene silencing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) in the aorta of patients with coronary atherosclerosis and to determine whether inhibition of CHI3L1 by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference could stabilize atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected discarded aortic specimens from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery and renal arterial tissues from kidney donors. A lentivirus carrying small interfering RNA targeting the expression of CHI3L1 was constructed. Fifty ApoE(-/-) mice were divided into control group and CHI3L1 gene silenced group. A constrictive collar was placed around carotid artery to induce plaques formation. Then lentivirus was transfected into carotid plaques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that CHI3L1 was overexpressed in aorta of patients with atherosclerosis and its expression was correlated with the atherosclerotic risk factors. After lentivirus transduction, mRNA and protein expression of CHI3L1 were attenuated in carotid plaques, leading to reduced plaque content of lipids and macrophages, and increased plaque content of collagen and smooth muscle cells. Moreover, CHI3L1 gene silencing downregulated the expression of local proinflammatory mediators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHI3L1 is overexpressed in aorta from patients with atherosclerosis and the lentivirus-mediated CHI3L1 gene silencing could represent a new strategy to inhibit plaques progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Zushun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Qichong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xing
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D037102:Lectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; C509289:Chil1 protein, mouse; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003094:Collagen
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