Lack of the Cysteine-Protease Inhibitor Cystatin C Promotes Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Abstract
Objective - Degradation of extracellular matrix plays an important role in growth and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. Cystatin C, inhibitor of the collagen- and elastin-degrading cysteine proteases of the cathepsin family, is produced by virtually all cell types. It is present in the normal artery wall but severely reduced in human atherosclerotic lesions. Methods and Results - To determine the functional role of cystatin C in atherosclerosis, we crossed cystatin C - deficient ( cysC(-/-)) mice with apolipoprotein E - deficient ( apoE(-/-)) mice. After 25 weeks of atherogenic diet, mice lacking apoE and cystatin C (cysC(-/-) apoE(-/-)) had larger subvalvular plaques compared with cysC(+/+) apoE(-/-) mice (766 000 +/- 20 000 mu m(2) per section versus 662 000 +/- 19 000 mu m(2) per section; P = 0.001), suggesting an atheroprotective role of cystatin C. The plaques from cysC(-/-) apoE(-/-) mice were characterized by increased total macrophage content. To determine which cellular source is important for the antiatherosclerotic effect of cystatin C, we performed bone marrow transplantations. ApoE(-/-) mice were transplanted with either cysC(-/-) apoE(+/+) or cysC(+/+) apoE(-/-) bone marrow. No significant differences in plaque area, macrophage, collagen, or lipid content of subvalvular lesions between the 2 groups were detected. Conclusions - The result suggests that the protective role of cystatin C in atherosclerosis is dependent primarily on its expression in nonhematopoietic cell types.
Details
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Research areas and keywords | Subject classification (UKÄ) – MANDATORY
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Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2151-2156 |
Journal | Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 10 |
Publication status | Published - 2005 |
Publication category | Research |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Bibliographic note
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory (013022012), Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology (013250300), Experimental Cardiovascular Research Unit (013242110)