Expression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 in human atherosclerotic carotid arteries

Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2000 Aug;20(2):146-52. doi: 10.1053/ejvs.2000.1145.

Abstract

Objectives: the preventive effect of acetylsalicylic acid in cardiovascular disease may be due to inhibition of platelet aggregation mediated by COX-1, but may in addition be due to anti-inflammatory effects by inhibition of COX-2. The objective of this study was to analyse the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in atherosclerotic and healthy vascular walls.

Design: the expression COX-1 and COX-2 was analysed in biopsies from human atherosclerotic carotid arteries and from healthy mammary arteries and saphenous veins.

Materials: vascular biopsies were obtained from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy or coronary bypass surgery.

Methods: RT-PCR was used for mRNA analysis and for localization of proteins we used immunohistochemistry.

Results: COX-2 was found in atherosclerotic plaques: in macrophages, in some smooth muscle cells and in endothelial cells of small vessels in the lesions. In non-atherosclerotic blood vessels, COX-2 was detected in the endothelium of the vasa vasorum in the adventitia. COX-1 was found in the endothelium in healthy and in atherosclerotic vessels.

Conclusions: the expression of COX-2 by inflammatory and vascular cells in atherosclerotic arteries suggests that products of this enzyme may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arteriosclerosis / drug therapy
  • Arteriosclerosis / enzymology*
  • Arteriosclerosis / immunology
  • Arteriosclerosis / pathology*
  • Aspirin / pharmacology
  • Biopsy
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / drug therapy
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / enzymology*
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / immunology
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / pathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / enzymology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inflammation
  • Isoenzymes / analysis*
  • Isoenzymes / drug effects
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / immunology
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / enzymology
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / analysis*
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / drug effects
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / genetics
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / immunology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Isoenzymes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS1 protein, human
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Aspirin