Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5951316 | Atherosclerosis | 2010 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Contrary to our expectations, catK deficiency did not protect against aneurysm formation, nor did it affect medial elastin breaks. Proteolytic activity in abdominal aortic lysates were comparable between apoEâ/â and catKâ//âapoEâ/â mice. Adventitial presence of catS- and catC-expressing cells was significantly increased in catKâ/â//apoEâ/â versus apoEâ/â mice, which might have compensated for the deficiency of catK-derived proteolysis in the aneurysm tissue of catK deficient apoEâ/â mice. Circulating granulocytes and activated T cell numbers were significantly increased in Ang II-infused catKâ/â//apoEâ/â mice, which is consistent with the borderline significant increase in adventitial leukocyte content in catKâ/â//apoEâ/â compared to apoEâ/â mice. Strikingly, despite unchanged proteolytic activity in AAA lesions, collagen content in the aneurysm was significantly increased in catKâ//âapoEâ/â mice. In conclusion, while catK deficiency has major impact on various vasculopathies, it did not affect murine aneurysm formation.
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Authors
Lili Bai, Linda Beckers, Erwin Wijnands, Suzanne P.M. Lutgens, M. Verónica HerÃas, Paul Saftig, Mat J.A.P. Daemen, Kitty Cleutjens, Esther Lutgens, Erik A.L. Biessen, Sylvia Heeneman,