Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; diet therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; drug therapy

Cytophagocytosis ; Humans ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to determine whether inhibition of cyclophilin A by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) could inhibit progression of atherosclerotic plaques and increase collagen production.

METHODSAtherosclerostic plaque model was induced by rapid perivascular carotid silicone collar placement in ApoE(-/-) mice. The recombinant CyPA-RNAi-Lentivirus (CyPA-RNAi-LV) or negative control-green fluorescent protein-Lentivirus (NC-GFP-LV) were constructed and transfected into right carotid plaques, respectively. Using the local injection method, ApoE(-/-) mice carotid artery plaque were intervened 10 min in the silicone collar placement with 10 µl (1.0 × 10⁸ TU/ml) lentivirus vector. The areas and CyPA expression of plaques were analyzed by morphological observation, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSCyPA-RNAi-LV not only prevented plaques progression ((9 085 ± 671) µm² to (18 021 ± 1 901) µm²), but also decreased plaque lipid content ((28.9 ± 6.3)% to (17.8 ± 4.5)%), increased plaque collagen content ((24.2 ± 4.8)% to (35.1 ± 5.2)%) at 6 weeks after lentivirus transfection. The intima/media ratio (0.36 ± 0.11 vs. 0.65 ± 0.12, P < 0.05) and degree of lumen stenosis (intima/lumen ratios, 0.18 ± 0.02 vs. 0.33 ± 0.03, P < 0.05) were also significantly reduced by CyPA-RNAi-LV. Moreover, RT-PCR analysis revealed downregulated expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9 -17.5%) in the CyPA-RNAi-LV group.

CONCLUSIONLentivirus-mediated CyPA silencing by siRNA could inhibit plaques progression and reduce local inflammation through the anti-inflammatory effects in this model.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; Cyclophilin A ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Disease Progression ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Vectors ; Inflammation ; Lentivirus ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Mice ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between CD147 expression and its untranslated regions 3'UTR rs8259 T/A polymorphism and acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSThe genotypes of CD147 were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods in 182 ACS patients and 328 healthy controls. The plasma level of CD147 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CD147 mRNA and protein expression was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot.

RESULTSThe plasma CD147 level obtained from radial artery in ACS patients ((3.63 ± 0.70) pg/L) was significantly higher than in control ((2.45 ± 0.27) pg/L, P < 0.05), and highest in plasma obtained from the coronary artery ((4.28 ± 1.03) pg/L, P < 0.05) in ACS patients. Furthermore, the plasma CD147 level was higher in the ACS patients with rs8259 AA genotype than in the ACS patients with rs8259 TT genotype ((4.08 ± 0.41) pg/L vs. (3.05 ± 0.79) pg/L in radial artery and (5.29 ± 0.62) pg/L vs. (3.13 ± 0.52) pg/L in coronary artery, both P < 0.05). There are an enhanced expression of CD147 mRNA (2.45 times higher than control) and protein (3.66 ± 1.56 vs. 1.81 ± 1.29) in PBMCs from ACS patients than that from controls (both P < 0.05). The PBMCs CD147 mRNA and protein expression level were significantly higher in ACS patients with rs8259 AA genotype (mRNA:2.45 ± 0.35, protein:1.63 ± 0.16) compared to ACS patients with rs8259 TT genotype (mRNA:1.69 ± 0.15, protein: 0.88 ± 0.16, both P < 0.05). Multiple logistic analysis showed that CD147 T allele (AT+TT) was a protective factor to ACS (OR = 0.667, 95% CI 0.507-0.879, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe over-expression of CD147 is involved in the pathogenesis of ACS. The CD147 3'UTR rs8259 T allele may be a protective factor for ACS, its polymorphism can affect the CD147 protein expression in ACS patients.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; genetics ; Alleles ; Basigin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Genotype ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length