While an elevated plasma concentration of HDLs is protective against the development of atherosclerosis and ensuing coronary heart disease (CHD), the mechanism of this protection is unknown. One early cellular event in atherogenesis is the adhesion of mononuclear leukocytes to the endothelium. This event is mediated principally by vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) but also involves other molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin. We have investigated the effect of isolated plasma HDLs and reconstituted HDLs on the expression of these molecules by endothelial cells. We show that physiological concentrations of HDLs inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) induction of these leukocyte adhesion molecules in a concentration-dependent manner. Steady state mRNA levels of TNF-alpha-induced VCAM-1 and E-selectin are significantly reduced by physiological concentrations of HDLs. An an HDL concentration of 1 mg/mL apolipoprotein A-I, the protein expressions of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin were inhibited by 89.6 +/- 0.4% (mean +/-SD, n=4), 64.8 +/- 1.0%, and 79.2 +/- 0.4%, respectively. In contrast, HDLs have no effect on the expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) or on the expression of the p55 and p75 subunits of the TNF-alpha receptor. HDLs were effective when added from 16 hours before to 5 minutes after cytokine stimulation. HDLs had no effect on TNF-alpha-induced expression of ICAM-1 by human foreskin fibroblasts, suggesting that the effect is cell-type restricted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta (AAA) is a particular, specifically localized form of atherothrombosis, providing a unique human model of this disease. The pathogenesis of AAA is characterized by a breakdown of the extracellular matrix due to an excessive proteolytic activity, leading to potential arterial wall rupture. The roles of matrix metalloproteinases and plasmin generation in progression of AAA have been demonstrated both in animal models and in clinical studies. In the present review, we highlight recent studies addressing the role of the haemoglobin-rich, intraluminal thrombus and the adventitial response in the development of human AAA. The intraluminal thrombus exerts its pathogenic effect through platelet activation, fibrin formation, binding of plasminogen and its activators, and trapping of erythrocytes and neutrophils, leading to oxidative and proteolytic injury of the arterial wall. These events occur mainly at the intraluminal thrombus–circulating blood interface, and pathological mediators are conveyed outwards, where they promote matrix degradation of the arterial wall. In response, neo-angiogenesis, phagocytosis by mononuclear cells, and a shift from innate to adaptive immunity in the adventitia are observed. Abdominal aortic aneurysm thus represents an accessible spatiotemporal model of human atherothrombotic progression towards clinical events, the study of which should allow further understanding of its pathogenesis and the translation of pathogenic biological activities into diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is the 13th commonest cause of death in the Western World. Although considerable research has been applied to the aetiology and mechanism of aneurysm expansion, little is known about the mechanism of rupture. Aneurysm rupture was historically considered to be a simple physical process that occurred when the aortic wall could no longer contain the haemodynamic stress of the circulation. However, AAAs do not conform to the law of Laplace and there is growing evidence that aneurysm rupture involves a complex series of biological changes in the aortic wall. This paper reviews the available data on patient variables associated with aneurysm rupture and presents the evidence implicating biological factors in AAA rupture.

Rationale Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. Together, 6 previously identified risk loci only explain a small proportion of the heritability of AAA. Objective To identify additional AAA risk loci using data from all available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Methods and Results Through a meta-analysis of 6 GWAS datasets and a validation study totalling 10,204 cases and 107,766 controls we identified 4 new AAA risk loci: 1q32.3 (SMYD2), 13q12.11 (LINC00540), 20q13.12 (near PCIF1/MMP9/ZNF335), and 21q22.2 (ERG). In various database searches we observed no new associations between the lead AAA SNPs and coronary artery disease, blood pressure, lipids or diabetes. Network analyses identified ERG, IL6R and LDLR as modifiers of MMP9, with a direct interaction between ERG and MMP9. Conclusions The 4 new risk loci for AAA appear to be specific for AAA compared with other cardiovascular diseases and related traits suggesting that traditional cardiovascular risk factor management may only have limited value in preventing the progression of aneurysmal disease.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality and has a significant heritability. We carried out a genome-wide association discovery study of 1866 patients with AAA and 5435 controls and replication of promising signals (lead SNP with a p value < 1 × 10(-5)) in 2871 additional cases and 32,687 controls and performed further follow-up in 1491 AAA and 11,060 controls. In the discovery study, nine loci demonstrated association with AAA (p < 1 × 10(-5)). In the replication sample, the lead SNP at one of these loci, rs1466535, located within intron 1 of low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) demonstrated significant association (p = 0.0042). We confirmed the association of rs1466535 and AAA in our follow-up study (p = 0.035). In a combined analysis (6228 AAA and 49182 controls), rs1466535 had a consistent effect size and direction in all sample sets (combined p = 4.52 × 10(-10), odds ratio 1.15 [1.10-1.21]). No associations were seen for either rs1466535 or the 12q13.3 locus in independent association studies of coronary artery disease, blood pressure, diabetes, or hyperlipidaemia, suggesting that this locus is specific to AAA. Gene-expression studies demonstrated a trend toward increased LRP1 expression for the rs1466535 CC genotype in arterial tissues; there was a significant (p = 0.029) 1.19-fold (1.04-1.36) increase in LRP1 expression in CC homozygotes compared to TT homozygotes in aortic adventitia. Functional studies demonstrated that rs1466535 might alter a SREBP-1 binding site and influence enhancer activity at the locus. In conclusion, this study has identified a biologically plausible genetic variant associated specifically with AAA, and we suggest that this variant has a possible functional role in LRP1 expression.

X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) is a key signal transducer in endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and its potential role in the atherosclerosis development is unknown. This study aims to explore the impact of XBP1 on maintaining endothelial integrity related to atherosclerosis and to delineate the underlying mechanism. We found that XBP1 was highly expressed at branch points and areas of atherosclerotic lesions in the arteries of ApoE ؊/؊ mice, which was related to the severity of lesion development. In vitro study using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) indicated that disturbed flow increased the activation of XBP1 expression and splicing. Overexpression of spliced XBP1 induced apoptosis of HUVECs and endothelial loss from blood vessels during ex vivo cultures because of caspase activation and down-regulation of VE-cadherin resulting from transcriptional suppression and matrix metalloproteinase-mediated degradation. Reconstitution of VEcadherin by Ad-VEcad significantly increased Ad-XBP1s-infected HUVEC survival. Importantly, Ad-XBP1s gene transfer to the vessel wall of ApoE ؊/؊ mice resulted in development of atherosclerotic lesions after aorta isografting. These results indicate that XBP1 plays an important role in maintaining endothelial integrity and atherosclerosis development, which provides a potential therapeutic target to intervene in atherosclerosis.caspase ͉ endothelial integrity ͉ Ve-cadherin ͉ vessel graft ͉ mouse model A therosclerosis is a leading cause of death worldwide (1, 2).Accumulating evidence suggests that atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease that can be initiated by risk factors (3-6). An important feature of atherosclerosis is its geographic distribution along the artery wall, i.e., occurring more frequently at curved or branching points in the vasculature, indicating that the flow pattern exerts an important role in the development of atherosclerotic lesions (7,8).Endothelial cells (ECs) are key cellular components of blood vessels, functioning as selectively permeable barriers between blood and tissues. It is believed that risk factors induce EC apoptosis, leading to the denudation or dysfunction of the intact endothelial monolayer, which causes lipid accumulation, monocyte adhesion, and inflammatory reactions that initiate atherosclerotic lesion (5, 9-12). Although information on risk factorinduced atherosclerosis has been accumulating, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.The X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) was originally identified as a bZIP protein capable of binding to the cis-acting X box present in the promoter regions of human major histocompatibility complex class II genes (13) and is known to be essential for liver growth and B lymphocyte differentiation (14,15). In mammalian cells, XBP1 is a key signal transducer in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. It has also been reported that there is a link between XBP1 and human disease (16,17). Although ER stress is reported to be involved in atherosclerosis (18)(19)(20)(21)(22), the role of XB...

Background: Apoptosis and autophagy are two closely related systems that induce cell death. Results: X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) mRNA splicing regulates BECLIN-1 transcriptional activation, a fundamental player in the initiation of autophagy. Conclusion: XBP1 splicing induces an autophagic response in endothelial cells. Significance: XBP1 could be used as an important pharmacological target that can regulate the autophagic machinery and endothelial cell death.

Background-Voltage-gated potassium (K ϩ ) channels encoded by KCNQ genes (Kv7 channels) have been identified in various rodent and human blood vessels as key regulators of vascular tone; however, nothing is known about the functional impact of these channels in vascular disease. We ascertained the effect of 3 structurally different activators of Kv7.2 through Kv7.5 channels (BMS-204352, S-1, and retigabine) on blood vessels from normotensive and hypertensive animals. Methods and Results-Precontracted thoracic aorta and mesenteric artery segments from normotensive rats were relaxed by all 3 Kv7 activators, with potencies of BMS-204352ϭS-1Ͼretigabine. We also tested these agents in the coronary circulation using the Langendorff heart preparation. BMS-204352 and S-1 dose dependently increased coronary perfusion at concentrations between 0.1 and 10 mol/L, whereas retigabine was effective at 1 to 10 mol/L. In addition, S-1 increased K ϩ currents in isolated mesenteric artery myocytes. The ability of these agents to relax precontracted vessels, increase coronary flow, or augment K ϩ currents was impaired considerably in tissues isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Of the 5 KCNQ genes, only the expression of KCNQ4 was reduced (Ϸ3.7 fold) in SHRs aorta. Kv7.4 protein levels were Ϸ50% lower in aortas and mesenteric arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats compared with normotensive vessels. A similar attenuated response to S-1 and decreased Kv7.4 were observed in mesenteric arteries from mice made hypertensive by angiotensin II infusion compared with normotensive controls. Conclusions-In 2 different rat and mouse models of hypertension, the functional impact of Kv7 channels was dramatically downregulated. (Circulation. 2011;124:602-611.)Key Words: hypertension Ⅲ vasodilation Ⅲ KCNQ potassium channels Ⅲ gene expression P rimary hypertension is characterized by raised total peripheral resistance caused by increased arterial tone. 1 Evidence suggests increased vascular tone during hypertension is a result of a more depolarized membrane potential, which has been associated with a rise in intracellular calcium (Ca 2ϩ ). 2,3 As such, an understanding of the K ϩ channels that stabilize the resting membrane potential is crucial for delineating the pathogenesis of hypertension. Clinical Perspective on p 611KCNQ1-5 genes encode for voltage-gated K ϩ channels (Kv7.1 through Kv7.5, respectively) that have an established physiological role in neurons, 4 -7 cardiomyocytes, 8 cochlea, 9 and some epithelia. 10 There is now a growing appreciation that Kv7 channels are important regulators of smooth muscle contractility in rodent and human blood vessels. [11][12][13] In all blood vessels studied, KCNQ1 and KCNQ4 expression appears to dominate, 11,12,14 -18 although our laboratory has shown a truncated variant of KCNQ5 is also readily expressed. 15,19 Modulation of these channels provokes profound changes in vascular smooth muscle membrane potential and consequently vascular tone. [13][14][15][16][17]20 Thus, the non...