title: Smoking is associated with lower amounts of arterial type I collagen and decorin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking affects the arterial wall and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It also affects the extracellular matrix in skin, causing impaired wound healing. However, little is known about putative molecular changes in the arterial wall. Our aim was to investigate the possible correlation between extracellular matrix content in arterial tissue and cigarette smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the non-atherosclerotic arterial wall of the internal mammary artery from coronary artery by-pass surgery in 13 never-smokers and 11 active smokers. Using histomorphometric methods, the area fraction of collagen stainable material was determined. In addition, proteome analysis of matrix molecules and other proteins was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The area fraction of collagen stainable material in smokers vs. never-smokers was 29.1% ± 3.8% vs. 43.3% ± 3.6% (mean ± SEM, p = 0.012) in tunica intima, 39.7% ± 5.5% vs. 56.8% ± 5.6% (mean ± SEM, p = 0.042) in tunica media, and 50.4% ± 3.9% vs. 61.0% ± 3.2% (mean ± SEM, p = 0.046) in tunica adventitia. We discovered significantly lower relative levels of collagen α1(I) (0.68 ± 0.048 vs. 1.02 ± 0.112, mean ± SEM, p = 0.013), collagen α2(I) (0.81 ± 0.046 vs. 1.14 ± 0.118, mean ± SEM, p = 0.038) and decorin (0.64 ± 0.04 vs. 0.98 ± 0.11, mean ± SEM, p = 0.009) in smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arterial tissue from active smokers contains decreased amounts of collagen stainable material, as well as type 1 collagen and decorin. These findings may explain some effects of smoking on the development of cardiovascular disease including compromised remodelling and increased risk of aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. Electronic address: anne-sofie.faarvang@rsyd.dk.
authors.forename: Anne-Sofie Allermann
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Faarvang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Center for Individualized Medicine in Arterial Diseases, Center for Clinical Proteomics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Simone Andrea
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rørdam Preil
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Clinical Institute, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Patricia Switten
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Center for Individualized Medicine in Arterial Diseases, Center for Clinical Proteomics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hans Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Center for Individualized Medicine in Arterial Diseases, Center for Clinical Proteomics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars Peter
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Center for Individualized Medicine in Arterial Diseases, Center for Clinical Proteomics, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars Melholt
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis*; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D058575:Decorin / Q000032:analysis*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D066253:Vascular Remodeling
chemical_list: C000601279:COL1A2 protein, human; D024042:Collagen Type I; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Collagen; Pre-atherosclerosis; Proteome; Smoking