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Orekhov AN, Ivanova EA, Markin AM, Nikiforov NG, Sobenin IA. Genetics of Arterial-Wall-Specific Mechanisms in Atherosclerosis: Focus on Mitochondrial Mutations. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2020; 22:54. [PMID: 32772280 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-020-00873-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Mutations in both nuclear and mitochondrial genes are associated with the development of atherosclerotic lesions in arteries and may provide a partial explanation to the focal nature of lesion distribution in the arterial wall. This review is aimed to discuss the genetic aspects of atherogenesis with a special focus on possible pro-atherogenic variants (mutations) of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes that may be implicated in atherosclerosis development and progression. RECENT FINDINGS Mutations in the nuclear genes generally do not cause a phenotype restricted to a specific vascular wall cell and manifest themselves mostly at the organism level. Such mutations can act as important contributors to changes in lipid metabolism and modulate other risk factors of atherosclerosis. By contrast, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations occurring locally in the arterial wall cells or in circulating immune cells may play a site-specific role in atherogenesis. The mosaic distribution of heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations in the arterial wall tissue may explain, at least to some extent, the locality and focality of atherosclerotic lesions distribution. The genetic mechanisms of atherogenesis include alterations of both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Altered lipid metabolism and inflammatory response of resident arterial wall and circulating immune cells may be related to mtDNA damage and defective mitophagy, which hinders clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria. Mutations of mtDNA can have mosaic distribution and locally affect functionality of endothelial and subendothelial intimal cells in the arterial wall contributing to atherosclerotic lesion development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N Orekhov
- Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 8 Baltiiskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 125315. .,Laboratory of Infection Pathology and Molecular Microecology, Institute of Human Morphology, 3 Tsyurupa Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418.
| | - Ekaterina A Ivanova
- Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, 2-1-207 Osennyaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 121609.
| | - Alexander M Markin
- Laboratory of Infection Pathology and Molecular Microecology, Institute of Human Morphology, 3 Tsyurupa Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
| | - Nikita G Nikiforov
- Centre of Collective Usage, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilova Street, Moscow, Russia, 119334.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Institute of Experimental Cardiology, National Medical Research Center of Cardiology, 15A 3-rd Cherepkovskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 121552
| | - Igor A Sobenin
- Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 8 Baltiiskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 125315.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Institute of Experimental Cardiology, National Medical Research Center of Cardiology, 15A 3-rd Cherepkovskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 121552
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Patel AP, Natarajan P. Completing the genetic spectrum influencing coronary artery disease: from germline to somatic variation. Cardiovasc Res 2020; 115:830-843. [PMID: 30789660 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvz032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic and environmental factors influence the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Genetic analyses of families and the population continue to yield important fundamental insights for CAD. For the past four decades, CAD human genetic research focused largely on the study of germline genetic variation in CAD and its risk factors. The first genes associated with CAD were discovered using basic Mendelian principles and pedigree analysis. Mapping of the human genome and advancement in sequencing technology sparked further discovery of novel genetic associations through exome sequencing and genome wide association analysis in increasingly larger populations. While prior work implicated in situ DNA damage as a feature of atherosclerosis, more recently, somatic mutagenesis in and clonal expansion of haematopoietic stem cells was found to influence risk of CAD. Mutations observed for this condition, termed clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential, frequently occur within epigenetic regulator genes (e.g. DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1, etc.), which are also implicated in leukaemogenesis. Hypercholesterolaemic mice with Tet2 bone marrow deficiency are predisposed to the development of atherosclerosis that may be partly related to inflammatory cytokines. As the genetic basis of CAD expands from the germline to somatic genome, our fundamental understanding of CAD continues to evolve; these new discoveries represent new opportunities for risk prediction and prevention, and a new facet of cardio-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniruddh P Patel
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 3.184, Boston, MA, USA.,Program in Population and Medical Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pradeep Natarajan
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, CPZN 3.184, Boston, MA, USA.,Program in Population and Medical Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Schwartz SM, Virmani R, Majesky MW. An update on clonality: what smooth muscle cell type makes up the atherosclerotic plaque? F1000Res 2018; 7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1969. [PMID: 30613386 PMCID: PMC6305222 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15994.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Almost 50 years ago, Earl Benditt and his son John described the clonality of the atherosclerotic plaque. This led Benditt to propose that the atherosclerotic lesion was a smooth muscle neoplasm, similar to the leiomyomata seen in the uterus of most women. Although the observation of clonality has been confirmed many times, interest in the idea that atherosclerosis might be a form of neoplasia waned because of the clinical success of treatments for hyperlipemia and because animal models have made great progress in understanding how lipid accumulates in the plaque and may lead to plaque rupture. Four advances have made it important to reconsider Benditt's observations. First, we now know that clonality is a property of normal tissue development. Second, this is even true in the vessel wall, where we now know that formation of clonal patches in that wall is part of the development of smooth muscle cells that make up the tunica media of arteries. Third, we know that the intima, the "soil" for development of the human atherosclerotic lesion, develops before the fatty lesions appear. Fourth, while the cells comprising this intima have been called "smooth muscle cells", we do not have a clear definition of cell type nor do we know if the initial accumulation is clonal. As a result, Benditt's hypothesis needs to be revisited in terms of changes in how we define smooth muscle cells and the quite distinct developmental origins of the cells that comprise the muscular coats of all arterial walls. Finally, since clonality of the lesions is real, the obvious questions are do these human tumors precede the development of atherosclerosis, how do the clones develop, what cell type gives rise to the clones, and in what ways do the clones provide the soil for development and natural history of atherosclerosis?
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renu Virmani
- CV Path Institute, Gaithersberg, Maryland, 20878, USA
| | - Mark W. Majesky
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA
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Miniati P, Sourvinos G, Michalodimitrakis M, Spandidos DA. Loss of Heterozygosity on Chromosomes 1, 2, 8, 9 and 17 in Cerebral Atherosclerotic plaques. Int J Biol Markers 2018; 16:167-71. [PMID: 11605728 DOI: 10.1177/172460080101600302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective Atherosclerosis is a fibroproliferative disease which has been attributed to several factors including genetic and molecular alterations. Initial studies have shown genetic alterations at the microsatellite level in the DNA of atherosclerotic plaques. Extending our initial findings, we performed a microsatellite analysis on cerebral atherosclerotic plaques. Methods Twenty-seven cerebral atherosclerotic plaques were assessed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MI) using 25 microsatellite markers located on chromosomes 2, 8, 9 and 17. DNA was extracted from the vessels as well as the respective blood from each patient and subjected to polymerase chain reaction. Results Our analyses revealed that specific loci on chromosomes 2, 8, 9 and 17 exhibited a significant incidence of LOH. Forty-six percent of the specimens showed loss of heterozygosity at 2p13–p21, 48% exhibited LOH at 8p12–q11.2, while allelic imbalance was detected in 47% of the cases. The LOH incidence was 39%, 31% and 27% at 17q21, 9q31–34 and 17p13, respectively. Genetic alterations were detected at a higher rate as compared to the corresponding alterations observed in plaques from other vessels. Discussion This is the first microsatellite analysis using atherosclerotic plaques obtained from cerebral vessels. Our results indicate an elevated mutational rate on specific chromosomal loci, suggesting a potential implication of these regions in atherogenesis.
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MESH Headings
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9
- Genetic Markers
- Humans
- Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/genetics
- Loss of Heterozygosity
- Microsatellite Repeats
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Affiliation(s)
- P Miniati
- Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
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Genomic structural variations for cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidity. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41268. [PMID: 28120895 PMCID: PMC5264603 DOI: 10.1038/srep41268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify genes targeted by both copy number and copy-neutral changes in the right coronary arteries in the area of advanced atherosclerotic plaques and intact internal mammary arteries derived from the same individuals with comorbid coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome. The artery samples from 10 patients were screened for genomic imbalances using array comparative genomic hybridization. Ninety high-confidence, identical copy number variations (CNVs) were detected. We also identified eight copy-neutral changes (cn-LOHs) > 1.5 Mb in paired arterial samples in 4 of 10 individuals. The frequencies of the two gains located in the 10q24.31 (ERLIN1) and 12q24.11 (UNG, ACACB) genomic regions were evaluated in 33 paired arteries and blood samples. Two patients contained the gain in 10q24.31 (ERLIN1) and one patient contained the gain in 12q24.11 (UNG, ACACB) that affected only the blood DNA. An additional two patients harboured these CNVs in both the arteries and blood. In conclusion, we discovered and confirmed a gain of the 10q24.31 (ERLIN1) and 12q24.11 (UNG, ACACB) genomic regions in patients with coronary artery disease and metabolic comorbidity. Analysis of DNA extracted from blood indicated a possible somatic origin for these CNVs.
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Donato AJ, Morgan RG, Walker AE, Lesniewski LA. Cellular and molecular biology of aging endothelial cells. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2015; 89:122-35. [PMID: 25655936 PMCID: PMC4522407 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 317] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and aging is a major risk factor for CVD development. One of the major age-related arterial phenotypes thought to be responsible for the development of CVD in older adults is endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial function is modulated by traditional CVD risk factors in young adults, but advancing age is independently associated with the development of vascular endothelial dysfunction. This endothelial dysfunction results from a reduction in nitric oxide bioavailability downstream of endothelial oxidative stress and inflammation that can be further modulated by traditional CVD risk factors in older adults. Greater endothelial oxidative stress with aging is a result of augmented production from the intracellular enzymes NADPH oxidase and uncoupled eNOS, as well as from mitochondrial respiration in the absence of appropriate increases in antioxidant defenses as regulated by relevant transcription factors, such as FOXO. Interestingly, it appears that NFkB, a critical inflammatory transcription factor, is sensitive to this age-related endothelial redox change and its activation induces transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can further suppress endothelial function, thus creating a vicious feed-forward cycle. This review will discuss the two macro-mechanistic processes, oxidative stress and inflammation, that contribute to endothelial dysfunction with advancing age as well as the cellular and molecular events that lead to the vicious cycle of inflammation and oxidative stress in the aged endothelium. Other potential mediators of this pro-inflammatory endothelial phenotype are increases in immune or senescent cells in the vasculature. Of note, genomic instability, telomere dysfunction or DNA damage has been shown to trigger cell senescence via the p53/p21 pathway and result in increased inflammatory signaling in arteries from older adults. This review will discuss the current state of knowledge regarding the emerging concepts of senescence and genomic instability as mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and inflammation in the aged endothelium. Lastly, energy sensitive/stress resistance pathways (SIRT-1, AMPK, mTOR) are altered in endothelial cells and/or arteries with aging and these pathways may modulate endothelial function via key oxidative stress and inflammation-related transcription factors. This review will also discuss what is known about the role of "energy sensing" longevity pathways in modulating endothelial function with advancing age. With the growing population of older adults, elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction with age is critical to establishing appropriate and measured strategies to utilize pharmacological and lifestyle interventions aimed at alleviating CVD risk. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "SI: CV Aging".
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Donato
- University of Utah, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Veteran's Affairs Medical Center-Salt Lake City, Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - R Garrett Morgan
- University of Washington, Department of Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ashley E Walker
- University of Utah, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lisa A Lesniewski
- University of Utah, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Veteran's Affairs Medical Center-Salt Lake City, Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Cervelli T, Borghini A, Galli A, Andreassi MG. DNA damage and repair in atherosclerosis: current insights and future perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2012; 13:16929-44. [PMID: 23443128 PMCID: PMC3546731 DOI: 10.3390/ijms131216929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among Western populations. Over the past two decades, considerable evidence has supported a crucial role for DNA damage in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. These findings support the concept that the prolonged exposure to risk factors (e.g., dyslipidemia, smoking and diabetes mellitus) leading to reactive oxygen species are major stimuli for DNA damage within the plaque. Genomic instability at the cellular level can directly affect vascular function, leading to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and premature vascular senescence. The purpose of this paper is to review current knowledge on the role of DNA damage and DNA repair systems in atherosclerosis, as well as to discuss the cellular response to DNA damage in order to shed light on possible strategies for prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Cervelli
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR (The National Research Council), via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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Li B, Qing L, Yan J, Kong Q. Instability of the octarepeat region of the human prion protein gene. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26635. [PMID: 22028931 PMCID: PMC3197570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 09/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a family of unique fatal transmissible neurodegenerative diseases that affect humans and many animals. Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is the most common prion disease in humans, accounting for 85–90% of all human prion cases, and exhibits a high degree of diversity in phenotypes. The etiology of sCJD remains to be elucidated. The human prion protein gene has an octapeptide repeat region (octarepeats) that normally contains 5 repeats of 24–27 bp (1 nonapeptide and 4 octapeptide coding sequences). An increase of the octarepeat numbers to six or more or a decrease of the octarepeat number to three is linked to genetic prion diseases with heterogeneous phenotypes in humans. Here we report that the human octarepeat region is prone to either contraction or expansion when subjected to PCR amplification in vitro using Taq or Pwo polymerase and when replicated in wild type E. coli cells. Octarepeat insertion mutants were even less stable, and the mutation rate for the wild type octarepeats was much higher when replicated in DNA mismatch repair-deficient E.coli cells. All observed octarepeat mutants resulting from DNA replication in E.coli were contained in head-to-head plasmid dimers and DNA mfold analysis (http://mfold.rna.albany.edu/?q=mfold/DNA-Folding-Form) indicates that both DNA strands of the octarepeat region would likely form multiple stable hairpin structures, suggesting that the octarepeat sequence may form stable hairpin structures during DNA replication or repair to cause octarepeat instability. These results provide the first evidence supporting a somatic octarepeat mutation-based model for human sCJD etiology: 1) the instability of the octarepeat region leads to accumulation of somatic octarepeat mutations in brain cells during development and aging, 2) this instability is augmented by compromised DNA mismatch repair in aged cells, and 3) eventually some of the octarepeat mutation-containing brain cells start spontaneous de novo prion formation and replication to initiate sCJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiya Li
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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Arvanitis DA, Flouris GA, Spandidos DA. Genomic rearrangements on VCAM1, SELE, APEG1and AIF1 loci in atherosclerosis. J Cell Mol Med 2005; 9:153-9. [PMID: 15784173 PMCID: PMC6741330 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005.tb00345.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory nature of atherosclerosis has been well established. However, the initial steps that trigger this response in the arterial intima remain obscure. Previous studies reported a significant rate of genomic alterations in human atheromas. The accumulation of genomic rearrangements in vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells may be important for disease development. To address this issue, 78 post-mortem obtained aortic atheromas were screened for microsatellite DNA alterations versus correspondent venous blood. To evaluate the significance of these observations, 33 additional histologically normal aortic specimens from age and sex-matched cases were examined. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was found in 47,4% of the cases and in 18,2% of controls in at least one locus. The LOH occurrence in aortic tissue is associated to atherosclerosis risk (OR 4,06, 95% CI 1,50 to 10,93). Significant genomic alterations were found on 1p32-p31, 1q22-q25, 2q35 and 6p21.3 where VCAM1, SELE, APEG1 and AIF1 genes have been mapped respectively. Our data implicate somatic DNA rearrangements, on loci associated to leukocyte adhesion, vascular smooth muscle cells growth, differentiation and migration, to atherosclerosis development as an inflammatory condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Arvanitis
- Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Andreassi MG. Coronary atherosclerosis and somatic mutations: an overview of the contributive factors for oxidative DNA damage. Mutat Res 2003; 543:67-86. [PMID: 12510018 DOI: 10.1016/s1383-5742(02)00089-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial process that appears to be caused by the interaction of environmental risk factors with multiple predisposing genes. Genetic research on CAD has traditionally focused on investigation aimed at identifying disease-susceptibility genes. Recent evidence suggests that somatically acquired DNA mutations may also contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of the disease, underlining the similarity between atherosclerotic and carcinogenic processes. The generation of oxidative stress has been emphasized as an important cause of DNA damage in atherosclerosis. This review highlights some of the major atherogenic risk factors as likely mediators in the oxidative modification of DNA. It also examines the hypothesis that an increase in oxidative stress may derive from "oxidatively" damaged mitochondria. Accordingly, further research in this field should be given high priority, since increased somatic DNA damage could be an important pathogenic factor and an additional prognostic predictor, as well as a potential target for therapeutic strategies in coronary artery disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Andreassi
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, G Pasquinucci Hospital, Via Aurelia Sud-Montepepe, 54100 Massa, Italy.
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George J, Afek A, Keren P, Herz I, Goldberg I, Haklai R, Kloog Y, Keren G. Functional inhibition of Ras by S-trans,trans-farnesyl thiosalicylic acid attenuates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. Circulation 2002; 105:2416-22. [PMID: 12021230 DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.0000016065.90068.96] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disorder involving inflammatory processes. These responses are associated with robust activation of signaling cascades by diverse cell surface receptors in a variety of cell types. The processes that are involved in atherosclerosis would likely require intact Ras pathways, which play a key role in the control of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined whether the Ras inhibitor farnesyl thiosalicylic acid (FTS) can suppress atherogenesis in the apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse model. Mice were treated with FTS or a control regimen 3 times weekly for 6 weeks and fed a normal chow diet. Two additional groups included FTS-treated and control-treated mice that were fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. FTS reduced both fatty streaks and advanced lesions compared with the control treatment. Ras inhibition in vivo was evidenced by the reduced content of the active form of Ras (Ras-GTP) in aortas of FTS-treated mice. Splenocytes from the FTS-treated versus control mice exhibited reduced proliferation to oxidized LDL (OxLDL) but not to concanavalin A. IgG anti-OxLDL antibody levels were reduced in FTS-treated mice compared with controls. Whereas no effect of FTS was evident on plaque T lymphocyte and macrophage content, lesional vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and nuclear factor-kappaB expression were considerably reduced compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS FTS suppressed atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, providing a useful tool for research in atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob George
- Department of Cardiology and the Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Grati FR, Ghilardi G, Sirchia SM, Massaro F, Cassani B, Scorza R, De Andreis C, Sironi E, Simoni G. Loss of heterozygosity of the NOS3 dinucleotide repeat marker in atherosclerotic plaques of human carotid arteries. Atherosclerosis 2001; 159:261-7. [PMID: 11730805 DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9150(01)00466-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We have investigated 28 atherosclerotic plaques of human carotid arteries with a panel of 39 microsatellite markers for the presence of LOH. The objective of this research was to verify if LOH, described in association with tumorigenic process, could be involved also in benign fibroproliferative disease. Seventy percent of samples demonstrated allelic imbalance: 50% of cases showed LOH at a minimum of one locus, 3.5% at a minimum of two loci and 14.3% at three or more loci. The percentages of LOH ranged between 3.8 and 14.3% and the highest involved polymorphic marker is the NOS3 internal dinucleotide repeat. Our results indicate that, like tumorigenesis, the atherogenic process could also involve LOH mechanism. Furthermore, the finding regarding the NOS3 internal polymorphism suggests a possible role of the gene as cofactor in formation of the atheromas.
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Affiliation(s)
- F R Grati
- Cattedra di Genetica Umana, Dipartmento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Polo San Paolo, Italy.
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Vassilakis DA, Sourvinos G, Spandidos DA, Siafakas NM, Bouros D. Frequent genetic alterations at the microsatellite level in cytologic sputum samples of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000; 162:1115-9. [PMID: 10988139 DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.162.3.9911119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease of unknown etiology associated with DNA damage and malignancy. Bronchogenic carcinoma is the cause of death in 10% to 13% of IPF patients. Microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) are frequently detected in cancers. If these genetic alterations could be observed in IPF, they might explain the higher relative risk of lung cancer in this disease. We investigated the incidence of MSI and LOH in sputum cytologic specimens from 26 IPF patients and 26 healthy, matched subjects, using 10 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. The electrophoretic pattern of each specimen was compared with that of corresponding peripheral blood. Thirteen (50%) patients showed genetic alterations, consisting either of MSI or LOH. Five (19%) patients exhibited MSI and 10 (39%) exhibited LOH in at least one microsatellite marker. Three (12%) patients showed LOH in more than one marker. None of the healthy subjects exhibited genetic alterations in the studied markers. No correlation was found between the detected genetic alterations and age, disease duration, blood gases, or spirometric parameters of the patients. Our findings suggest that the genetic alterations that we studied are frequent in IPF, are apparently unrelated to the severity of the disease, and may be related to tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Vassilakis
- Department of Pneumonology and Laboratory of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, University Hospital, Heraklion, Greece
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Abstract
Benditt's observation of the monoclonal origin of the atherosclerotic lesion has been controversial because it appeared to conflict with conventional wisdom. A new method based on a polymerase chain reaction amplification of the DNA of an X-inactivated gene from microdissected tissue confirms that Benditt was correct. However, this monoclonal expansion can also be found in nonatherosclerotic intima and media. These new data suggest that plaque clonality may represent expansion of preexisting patches of cells arising during development of the media. This developmental view does not conflict with other recent evidence that plaque expansion is associated with mutation or viral events. However, if plaques arise from patches, then early developmental mechanisms may be critical to the later evolution of the lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Schwartz
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
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