title: Increased Wnt5a mRNA Expression in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions, and Oxidized LDL Treated Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Wnt5a is a secreted glycoprotein highly present in atherosclerotic lesions. Uptake of oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) by monocytes/macrophages plays a critical role in atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to determine if Wnt5a mRNA expression correlates with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions, and if, ox-LDL can induce Wnt5a mRNA in macrophages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wnt5a mRNA in tissue sections from carotid arteries of patients undergoing endarterectomy was quantified via RT-PCR and correlated with plaque severity. Human monocyte-derived macrophages and differentiated THP-1 cells, a human monocytic cell line, were treated with ox-LDL or native-LDL. Subsequently, Wnt5a transcripts were quantified by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regions of the arteries with more severe plaques had detectable and significant levels of Wnt5a mRNA, while regions of the arteries containing less vulnerable plaques had low or non-detectable Wnt5a. Ox-LDL, but not native-LDL, induced Wnt5a mRNA in both human monocyte-derived macrophages and differentiated THP-1 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that the expression of Wnt5a correlates with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions, and that ox-LDL induces Wnt5a mRNA expression in human macrophages. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that Wnt5a plays a critical role in atherosclerosis progression and that a source of Wnt5a is ox-LDL stimulated macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Pooja M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Denise L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: House
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Chad M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Leonard D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.affiliation: Mid West Cardiology Research Foundation, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Mitchell J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.affiliation: Department of Specialty Medicine, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Kelly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malgor
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Wnt5a; atherosclerosis; inflammation; low density lipoprotein