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  • 1
    In: Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Georg Thieme Verlag KG, Vol. 118, No. 02 ( 2018), p. 329-339
    Abstract: Background The intraluminal thrombi (ILT) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) contain neutrophils, which can secrete elastase. We evaluated whether plasma neutrophil elastase-derived cross-linked fibrin degradation products (E-XDP) could reveal the presence, size and mechanical stress of AAAs and its ILTs. Methods E-XDP and D-dimer were measured in plasma from 37 male patients with AAA and 42 male controls. The ILT volumes of the AAAs and any coexisting aneurysms could be measured in 29 patients and finite element analysis was performed to estimate mechanical stress of the ILT. E-XDP, neutrophil elastase and neutrophil marker CD66acd were evaluated in aortic tissue with immunohistochemistry (IHC). The association between ILT volume and E-XDP was validated in a separate cohort (n = 51). Results E-XDP levels were elevated in patients with AAA compared with controls (p = 5.8e-13), indicated AAA with 98% sensitivity, 86% specificity and increased with presence of coexisting aneurysms. The association between AAA and increased E-XDP was independent of smoking, comorbidities and medication. E-XDP correlated with volume of all ILTs (r = 0.76, p = 4.5e-06), mean ILT stress (r = 0.46, p = 0.013) and the volume of the AAA-associated ILT (r = 0.64, p = 0.00017). E-XDP correlated stronger with ILT volume compared with D-dimer (r = 0.76 vs. r = 0.64, p = 0.018). The correlation between E-XDP and ILT volume was validated in the separate cohort (r = 0.53, p = 7.6e-05). IHC revealed E-XDP expression in the ILT, spatially related to neutrophil elastase and neutrophils. Conclusion E-XDP is a marker of the presence of AAA and coexisting aneurysms as well as the volume and mechanical stress of the ILT.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 0340-6245 , 2567-689X
    Language: English
    Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag KG
    Publication Date: 2018
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  • 2
    In: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 36, No. 9 ( 2016-09), p. 1947-1961
    Abstract: Key augmented processes in atherosclerosis have been identified, whereas less is known about downregulated pathways. Here, we applied a systems biology approach to examine suppressed molecular signatures, with the hypothesis that they may provide insight into mechanisms contributing to plaque stability. Approach and Results— Muscle contraction, muscle development, and actin cytoskeleton were the most downregulated pathways (false discovery rate=6.99e-21, 1.66e-6, 2.54e-10, respectively) in microarrays from human carotid plaques (n=177) versus healthy arteries (n=15). In addition to typical smooth muscle cell (SMC) markers, these pathways also encompassed cytoskeleton-related genes previously not associated with atherosclerosis. SYNPO2, SYNM, LMOD1, PDLIM7 , and PLN expression positively correlated to typical SMC markers in plaques (Pearson r 〉 0.6, P 〈 0.0001) and in rat intimal hyperplasia ( r 〉 0.8, P 〈 0.0001). By immunohistochemistry, the proteins were expressed in SMCs in normal vessels, but largely absent in human plaques and intimal hyperplasia. Subcellularly, most proteins localized to the cytoskeleton in cultured SMCs and were regulated by active enhancer histone modification H3K27ac by chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing. Functionally, the genes were downregulated by PDGFB (platelet-derived growth factor beta) and IFNg (interferron gamma), exposure to shear flow stress, and oxLDL (oxidized low-density lipoprotein) loading. Genetic variants in PDLIM7, PLN , and SYNPO2 loci associated with progression of carotid intima-media thickness in high-risk subjects without symptoms of cardiovascular disease (n=3378). By eQTL (expression quantitative trait locus), rs11746443 also associated with PDLIM7 expression in plaques. Mechanistically, silencing of PDLIM7 in vitro led to downregulation of SMC markers and disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, decreased cell spreading, and increased proliferation. Conclusions— We identified a panel of genes that reflect the altered phenotype of SMCs in vascular disease and could be early sensitive markers of SMC dedifferentiation.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1079-5642 , 1524-4636
    Language: English
    Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
    Publication Date: 2016
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 1494427-3
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  • 3
    In: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 36, No. suppl_1 ( 2016-05)
    Abstract: Proprotein convertases (PCSKs) process matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and cytokines. Apart from PCSK9, the role of these enzymes in vascular disease is largely unknown. Previously, we demonstrated upregulation of PCSK6 in carotid atherosclerosis, primarily localized to smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and positively correlated to inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling and cytokines. Here, we extended these findings to determine the role of PCSK6 in vascular development and disease. Increased expression of PCSK6 in vascular disease was validated by microarrays from two non-overlapping cohorts of carotid plaques vs. non-atherosclerotic arteries (n=50 patients and n=32 patients, p 〈 0.0001), as well as abdominal (AAA, n=14, p 〈 0.0001) and thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA, n=244, p=0.012). By eQTL, variants in the PCSK6 gene were found to influence it’s expression in both plaques and aneurysms. Among these, rs6598465 also showed association with maximum progression of carotid intima-media thickness in high-risk coronary artery disease subjects (n=3388, p=0.037). By IHC, PCSK6 localized mainly to SMCs in the fibrous cap and neovessels in atherosclerotic, AAA and TAA tissues. In mouse-, rat-, and human intimal hyperplasia, PCSK6 was expressed in proliferating SMCs. By microarrays, after rat carotid balloon injury there was an early downregulation of PCSK6 followed by an upregulation in later phases during SMC activation, as well as positive correlation to PDGFB and IGF1 (Spearman r 〉 0.7, p 〈 0.0001) and to MMP2 and MMP14 (r 〉 0.5, p 〈 0.0001). In zebrafish embryos, PCSK6 localized to heart and vasculature and its ablation caused defective peripheral vascular patterning with cerebral and myocardial hemorrhage. PCSK6 -/- mice did not present an obvious vascular phenotype but showed reduced intimal hyperplasia compared to wild-type mice after carotid artery ligation (p=0.015). In vitro, PCSK6 overexpression markedly increased SMC migration upon PDGFBB stimulation (p 〈 0.0001). The present study establishes PCSK6 as a key modulator of SMC function in vascular disease and demonstrates a functional link between PCSK6 expression and SMC migration in vascular remodeling.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1079-5642 , 1524-4636
    Language: English
    Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
    Publication Date: 2016
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 1494427-3
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  • 4
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    Online Resource
    Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) ; 2015
    In:  Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Vol. 35, No. suppl_1 ( 2015-05)
    In: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 35, No. suppl_1 ( 2015-05)
    Abstract: Unstable carotid stenosis is an important source of extracranial atheroembolism and stroke. Current interventional therapy is based on surrogate markers for stroke risk and no precise diagnostic tool is available for identification of either individuals or lesions at risk. Thus, biomarkers for the unstable carotid atheroma may improve selection of patient for intervention. Here, a high-throughput pipeline for identification of circulating biomarkers for unstable carotid atherosclerosis was developed. Carotid plaques were part of the Biobank for Karolinska Endarterectomies (BiKE) and obtained from patients treated for symptomatic (S) and asymptomatic (AS) carotid stenosis together with peripheral plasma and ‘local’ plasma (n = 47) sampled after clamping prior to arteriotomy. Screening of proteins was processed through Luminex based, suspension-bead assays using over 10,000 antibodies from the Human Protein Resource (HPR) and compared to peripheral plasma (n = 200 total). Plasma analysis identified 150 significantly dysregulated candidates based on three comparisons: proteins enriched in local plasma compared to peripheral plasma; in local plasma from S compared with AS patients; in peripheral plasma from S compared with AS patients. Pathway analysis revealed that detected proteins were related to ossification, lysosomes, magnesium transport, prenylation, collagens, lipid metabolism, and transcription factors. Identified candidate proteins were further filtered using public database mining, comparisons with transcriptomic data from BiKE, and qPCR/IHC in matched endarterectomies. Among the identified candidates, THEMIS2 and BLVRB were examples of proteins successfully validated as upregulated in both plaques and plasma from S patients and localized to CD68+ macrophages. Extensive analysis of plasma and tissue samples from patients undergoing carotid surgery permitted identification of several potential biomarkers for unstable carotid atherosclerosis. Further validation in larger cohorts of unstable atherosclerosis is necessary in order to determine predictive power for the identification of individuals at risk as well as for the development of targeted bioimaging for lesion detection.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1079-5642 , 1524-4636
    Language: English
    Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
    Publication Date: 2015
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 1494427-3
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  • 5
    In: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 42, No. Suppl_1 ( 2022-05)
    Abstract: Introduction: PCSK6 is a protease that activates cytokines and growth factors and strongly enriched in healthy human liver, however its function in this context has not been explored. We have previously shown that PCSK6 is induced in atherosclerotic plaques from patients with symptoms of stroke and important for regulating several cell types in this context. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of PCSK6 in lipid metabolism in liver, particularly in the context of atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: We used publically available datasets and several atherosclerosis biobanks to investigate the expression of PCSK6 in healthy and diseased human tissues. In addition, we used full Pcsk6 -/- mice as well as liver specific conditional Pcsk6 -/- knockout mice compared to littermate controls, to investigate the effects of PCSK6 ablation on lipid metabolism. Results: Genetic analyses of the PCSK6 locus identified a variant, rs7181043, that was significantly associated with PCSK6 mRNA expression in healthy human adipose tissue, liver and in atherosclerotic plaques. The same variant was associated specifically with plaque fat content and atherosclerotic patient’s plasma LDL levels. In addition, PCSK6 mRNA expression in plaques was positively correlated with total plasma cholesterol and LDL levels in atherosclerotic patients as well as lipid metabolism associated pathways within the carotid plaque. Microarray comparison of the livers from Pcsk6 -/- mice and controls showed that VLDL particle assembly was one of the upregulated processes. I n vivo studies showed that Pcsk6 -/- mice have higher plasma cholesterol and LPL levels at baseline compared to controls, and lower levels of LDLR in their liver. These findings were further confirmed in liver specific conditional knockouts. Preliminary results show that liver specific knockout mice develop increased liver steatosis and fibrosis on a modified western diet. Conclusions: Our data suggests that PCSK6 is involved in cholesterol and metabolic control in liver. Breeding of liver specific Pcsk6 knockout mice on an ApoE -/- background is currently ongoing and will provide insight into the role of liver PCSK6 in atherosclerosis and NAFLD development.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1079-5642 , 1524-4636
    Language: English
    Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
    Publication Date: 2022
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 1494427-3
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  • 6
    In: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 42, No. Suppl_1 ( 2022-05)
    Abstract: Introduction: Proprotein convertase subtilisins/kexins (PCSKs) activate cytokines and growth factors and have been implicated in various cancers. We have previously shown that PCSK6 is a key protease modulating smooth muscle cell response in atherosclerosis, but its expression also correlated positively with typical markers of T lymphocytes and macrophages in plaques and it was localised in the proximity of these cells. Here, we hypothesized that PCSK6 may be involved in modulating inflammatory responses and aimed to elucidate its role in a hyperlipidemic mice model. Methods: Detailed immunophenotyping using histology, FACS-, OLINK- and ELISA-based analyses and primary cell cultures was used to compare Pcsk6 -/- and littermate controls. Atherosclerosis was evaluated in Ldlr -/- mice upon bone marrow transplant with Pcsk6 -/- or wild-type bone-marrow. Results: At baseline Pcks6 -/- mice showed an enrichment of pro-inflammatory cytokines Ccl2, Ccl3, Ccl20, Cxcl1 and in particular Il17a and Il17f in plasma compared controls. Spleens of Pcsk6 -/- mice had an increased number of germinal centres and FACS analysis showed that they contained significantly more CD8+ T cells. Microarray analysis of spleens from Pcsk6 -/- vs. controls confirmed that T cell markers CD4, CD3E and CD3G were upregulated. In vitro , splenocytes isolated from Pcsk6 -/- mice secreted more IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-10 than controls upon stimulation with α-CD3 and α-CD28 antibodies. Moreover, peritoneal macrophages from Pcsk6 -/- mice secreted more TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-10 compared to control mice upon LPS stimulation. Interestingly, bone marrow derived macrophages from Pcsk6 -/- mice were also more prone to lipid uptake. Finally, in vivo transplantation of Pcsk6 -/- bone marrow to Ldlr -/- mice led to increased atherosclerotic plaque burden compared to controls, as quantified in the aortic root. Conclusions: PCSK6 ablation led to increased number of CD8+ T cells, as well as macrophage and cytokine activation. Transplantation of Pcsk6 -/- bone marrow resulted in an increase in atherosclerotic plaque burden compared to controls. Taken together, these results indicate that PCSK6 is a key regulator of the immune system, though the exact mechanisms involved require further investigation.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1079-5642 , 1524-4636
    Language: English
    Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
    Publication Date: 2022
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 1494427-3
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  • 7
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) ; 2021
    In:  Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Vol. 41, No. 5 ( 2021-05-05), p. 1738-1750
    In: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 41, No. 5 ( 2021-05-05), p. 1738-1750
    Abstract: Therapeutic advancements in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease have improved prevention of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction, but diagnostic methods for atherosclerotic plaque phenotyping to aid individualized therapy are lacking. In this feasibility study, we aimed to elucidate plaque biology by decoding the molecular phenotype of plaques through analysis of computed-tomography angiography images, making a predictive model for plaque biology referred to as virtual transcriptomics. Approach and Results: We employed machine intelligence using paired computed-tomography angiography and transcriptomics from carotid endarterectomies of 40 patients undergoing stroke-preventive surgery for carotid stenosis. Computed tomography angiographies were analyzed with novel software for accurate characterization of plaque morphology and plaque transcriptomes obtained from microarrays, followed by mathematical modeling for prediction of molecular signatures. Four hundred fourteen coding and noncoding RNAs were robustly predicted using supervised models to estimate gene expression based on plaque morphology. Examples of predicted transcripts included ion transporters, cytokine receptors, and a number of microRNAs whereas pathway analyses demonstrated enrichment of several biological processes relevant for the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and plaque instability. Finally, the ability of the models to predict plaque gene expression was demonstrated using computed tomography angiographies from 4 sequestered patients and comparisons with transcriptomes of corresponding lesions. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study show that atherosclerotic plaque phenotyping by image analysis of conventional computed-tomography angiography can elucidate the molecular signature of atherosclerotic lesions in a multiscale setting. The study holds promise for optimized personalized therapy in the prevention of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, which warrants further investigations in larger cohorts.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1079-5642 , 1524-4636
    Language: English
    Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
    Publication Date: 2021
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 1494427-3
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  • 8
    In: Atherosclerosis, Elsevier BV, Vol. 292 ( 2020-01), p. 215-223
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 0021-9150
    Language: English
    Publisher: Elsevier BV
    Publication Date: 2020
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 1499887-7
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  • 9
    In: Cells, MDPI AG, Vol. 9, No. 4 ( 2020-04-18), p. 1009-
    Abstract: Proprotein convertases (PCSKs) process matrix metalloproteases and cytokines, but their function in the vasculature is largely unknown. Previously, we demonstrated upregulation of PCSK6 in atherosclerotic plaques from symptomatic patients, localization to smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the fibrous cap and positive correlations with inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling and cytokines. Here, we hypothesize that PCSK6 could be involved in flow-mediated vascular remodeling and aim to evaluate its role in the physiology of this process using knockout mice. Pcsk6−/− and wild type mice were randomized into control and increased blood flow groups and induced in the right common carotid artery (CCA) by ligation of the left CCA. The animals underwent repeated ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) examinations followed by euthanization with subsequent evaluation using wire myography, transmission electron microscopy or histology. The Pcsk6−/− mice displayed a flow-mediated increase in lumen circumference over time, assessed with UBM. Wire myography revealed differences in the flow-mediated remodeling response detected as an increase in lumen circumference at optimal stretch with concomitant reduction in active tension. Furthermore, a flow-mediated reduction in expression of SMC contractile markers SMA, MYH11 and LMOD1 was seen in the Pcsk6−/− media. Absence of PCSK6 increases outward remodeling and reduces medial contractility in response to increased blood flow.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2073-4409
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2020
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2661518-6
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  • 10
    In: Journal of the American Heart Association, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 5, No. 5 ( 2016-05-06)
    Abstract: The NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 ( NLRP 3) inflammasome is an interleukin ( IL )‐1β and IL ‐18 cytokine processing complex that is activated in inflammatory conditions. The role of the NLRP 3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction is not fully understood. Methods and Results Atherosclerotic plaques were analyzed for transcripts of the NLRP 3 inflammasome, and for IL ‐1β release. The Swedish First‐ever myocardial Infarction study in Ac‐county ( FIA ) cohort consisting of DNA from 555 myocardial infarction patients and 1016 healthy individuals was used to determine the frequency of 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNP s) from the downstream regulatory region of NLRP 3. Expression of NLRP 3, Apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a CARD ( ASC ), caspase‐1 ( CASP 1), IL 1B, and IL 18 mRNA was significantly increased in atherosclerotic plaques compared to normal arteries. The expression of NLRP 3 mRNA was significantly higher in plaques of symptomatic patients when compared to asymptomatic ones. CD 68‐positive macrophages were observed in the same areas of atherosclerotic lesions as NLRP 3 and ASC expression. Occasionally, expression of NLRP 3 and ASC was also present in smooth muscle cells. Cholesterol crystals and ATP induced IL ‐1β release from lipopolysaccharide‐primed human atherosclerotic lesion plaques. The minor alleles of the variants rs4266924, rs6672995, and rs10733113 were associated with NLRP 3 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells but not with the risk of myocardial infarction. Conclusions Our results indicate a possible role of the NLRP 3 inflammasome and its genetic variants in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2047-9980
    Language: English
    Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
    Publication Date: 2016
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2653953-6
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