title: Investigation of RNA interference suppression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in mouse model of atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of RNA interference of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 on atherosclerosis on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- mouse.
  
  
  METHODS
  ApoE-/- mouse strain and three cell lines (293T, NIH3T3 and Raw264.7) were used in the present study to investigate the effect of MMP-9 silencing by RNA interference. Thirty 10-week-old ApoE-/- mice were randomly assigned to a control group, lentiviruses with naked vector group and Lentiviruses-MMP-9 intervention group (n = 10). Aortic atherosclerotic plaques of the mice were stained with immunohistochemical techniques, the MMP-9 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels of three groups were detected simultaneously. Expression of MMP-9 was significantly down-regulated in interference group. MMP-9 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in MMP-9 interference group were significantly lower than that of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of MMP-9 is closely related to vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques. Silencing of MMP-9 expression acts as a positive role in maintenance of atherosclerotic plaque stability. The present study provides novel experimental insight for the treatment of vulnerable plaques in atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Xiamen City Fujian Province, 36102, China.
authors.forename: Zhe-Xiu
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Xiamen City Fujian Province, 36102, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Xiamen City Fujian Province, 36102, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Xiamen City Fujian Province, 36102, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Xiamen City Fujian Province, 36102, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Xiamen City Fujian Province, 36102, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ke
keywords: Atherosclerosis; MMP-9; RNA interference; vulnerability