Chemerin and CMKLR1 expression in human arteries and periadventitial fat: a possible role for local chemerin in atherosclerosis?
BACKGROUND
Depending on their anatomical location, different fat depots have a different capacity to produce bioactive peptides, called adipokines. Adipokines produced by periadventitial fat have been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular disease, including atherosclerosis. Chemerin is an adipokine with an established role in immunity, adipose tissue function and metabolism, acting in autocrine, paracrine and endocrine manners. We investigated the protein expression of chemerin and its receptor, CMKLR1, in human aortas, coronary vessels and the respective periadventitial adipose tissue and correlated their expression with the presence of atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry for chemerin and CMKLR1 was performed on human aortic and coronary artery samples including the periadventitial adipose tissue. Aortic and coronary atherosclerotic lesions were assessed using the AHA classification.


RESULTS
Chemerin immunopositivity was noticed in both periadventitial fat depots, in vascular smooth muscle cells and foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions. Periadventitial fat and foam cell chemerin immunopositivity was statistically significantly correlated with the severity of atherosclerosis in both locations. CMKLR1 was expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells and foam cells in aortic and coronary vessels with atherosclerotic lesions. CMKLR1 immunostaining in foam cells was statistically significantly correlated with aortic atherosclerosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results lend some support to a presumable role of locally produced chemerin in the progression of atherosclerotic lesions, possibly acting through its CMKLR1 receptor. Further research will elucidate the role of chemerin signaling in atherosclerosis.
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26500 Rio Patras, Greece. christos.kst@gmail.com.
Christos G
CG
Kostopoulos
Sofia G
SG
Spiroglou
John N
JN
Varakis
Efstratios
E
Apostolakis
Helen H
HH
Papadaki
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D063194:Adventitia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D018925:Chemokines / Q000032:analysis*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
C102741:CMKLR1 protein, human; D018925:Chemokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C478630:RARRES2 protein, human; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine