FBN-1, FN-1 and TIMP-3 gene expression levels in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm

Abstract

Background Aortic aneurysm occurs in the thoracic and abdominal sections of the aorta and is a deadly late-age-at-onset disease. Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TTAs) are characterized by progressive smooth muscle cell rarefaction due to impaired extracellular matrix. The aim of this study was to investigate fibrillin-1 (FBN-1), fibronectin-1 (FN-1) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) gene expression levels in patients with TTA. Materials and methods The data were analyzed for 16 patients treated for TAA and nine control subjects. Tissue samples obtained during surgery were frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80°C until RNA isolation. Gene expression analysis was performed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for each gene and Beta actin was used as control gene. 2−ΔΔCT method was used for the determining expression levels of the genes. Results According to the results of this study, TIMP-3 gene was nine-fold higher expressed in TAA tissues (p = 0.034). Furthermore, TIMP-3 expression levels were found associated with fasting blood glucose, red blood cells and ejection fraction. The gene expression levels of FBN-1 and FN-1 were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion In this clinical trial, we concluded that TIMP-3 expression increases in dilated aorta.