Raised soluble P-selectin moderately accelerates atherosclerotic plaque progression
Irvine, JC; Woollard, KJ; Bobik, A; Jefferis, AM; Lumsden, NG; Chin-Dusting, JP; Harris, E; Fang, L; Andrews, KL; Aprico, A; Kanellakis, P
Abstract
Soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), a biomarker of inflammatory related pathologies including cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, also has pro-atherosclerotic effects including the ability to increase leukocyte recruitment and modulate thrombotic responses in vivo. The current study explores its role in progressing atherosclerotic plaque disease. Apoe-/- mice placed on a high fat diet (HFD) were given daily injections of recombinant dimeric murine P-selectin (22.5 µg/kg/day) for 8 or 16 weeks. Saline or sE-selectin injections were used as negative controls. In order to assess the role of sP-selectin on atherothrombosis an experimental plaque remodelling murine model, with sm22α-hDTR Apoe-/- mice on a HFD in conjunction with delivery of diphtheria toxin to induce targeted vascular smooth muscle apoptosis, was used. These mice were similarly given daily injections of sP-selectin for 8 or 16 weeks. While plaque mass and aortic lipid content did not change with sP-selectin treatment in Apoe-/- or SM22α-hDTR Apoe-/- mice on HFD, increased plasma MCP-1 and a higher plaque CD45 content in Apoe-/- HFD mice was observed. As well, a significant shift towards a more unstable plaque phenotype in the SM22α-hDTR Apoe-/- HFD mice, with increased macrophage accumulation and lower collagen content, leading to a lower plaque stability index, was observed. These results demonstrate that chronically raised sP-selectin favours progression of an unstable atherosclerotic plaque phenotype.
| Journal | PLOS ONE |
| ISSN | 1932-6203 |
| Published | 01 Jan 2014 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | e97422 |
| DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0097422 |
| Type | Journal Article |
| Sponsorship |