title: Gene expression levels of elastin and fibulin-5 according to differences between carotid plaque regions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the gene expression levels of elastin and fibulin-5 according to differences between carotid plaque regions and to correlate it with clinical features of plaque destabilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 44 endarterectomy specimens available from operated symptomatic carotid artery stenoses. The specimens were separated according to anatomic location: internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery (ECA) and common carotid artery (CCA), and then stored in liquid nitrogen. The amounts of cDNA for elastin and fibulin-5 were determined by Quantitative real-time PCR (Q-RT-PCR). Target gene copy numbers were normalized using hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT1) gene. The delta-delta CT method was applied for relative quantification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Q-RT-PCR data showed that relative fibulin-5 gene expression was increased in ICA plaque regions when compared to CCA regions but not reaching significance (p=0.061). At the same time, no differences were observed in elastin mRNA level between different anatomic plaque regions (p>0.05). Moreover, elastin and fibulin-5 mRNA expression and clinical parameters were compared in ICA plaques versus CCA and ECA regions, respectively. Up-regulation of elastin and fibulin-5 mRNA levels in ICA were strongly correlated with family history of cardiovascular disease when compared to CCA (p<0.05). Up-regulation of fibulin-5 in ICA was significantly associated with diabetes, and elevated triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) when compared to ECA (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical significance is the differences between the proximal and distal regions of the lesion, associated with the ICA, CCA and ECA respectively, with increased fibulin-5 in the ICA region.
authors: Gaziosmanpasa Taksim Training and Research Hospital, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Emre
authors: E
authors: Sivrikoz
authors: Istanbul University, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Molecular Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Özlem
authors: Ö
authors: Timirci-Kahraman
authors: Istanbul University, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Molecular Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Arzu
authors: A
authors: Ergen
authors: Istanbul University, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Molecular Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ümit
authors: Ü
authors: Zeybek
authors: Liv Hospital, Bahcesehir University, Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Aksoy
authors: Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Yanar
authors: Yeditepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Turgay
authors: T
authors: İsbir
authors: Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul University Department of Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey metlevkurt@superonline.com.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Kurtoğlu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004549:Elastin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C492373:FBLN5 protein, human; D008055:Lipids; D004549:Elastin
keywords: Elastin; carotid plaque; fibulin-5; gene expression