Expression of inflammation-related genes in human atherosclerotic plaques

Aims: Atherosclerosis is an inflammator y disease which molecular mechanisms are not been completely investigated. Our aim is to perform a wide expression study of inflammation related genes in human atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: The Human Inflammation Array (Applied Biosystems) was used to perform the mRNA quantification of 92 inflammation-related genes in 12 atherosclerotic plaques, their respective adjacent regions (with a lower grade lesion) and 7 healthy ar teries. The principle of the array is the real-time PCR amplification with a TaqMan probe specific for each gene. Data analysis was performed with SDS 2.3 software with the comparative Ct method using the gene beta-2-microglobulin as housekeeping and one of analysed samples as calibrator. Results: The mRNA levels of 42 genes result to be differently expressed:13 genes were up-regulated in atherosclerotic plaques respect to control ar teries whereas 29 were down-regulated. Their expression levels show an increasing or a decreasing trend from healthy ar teries to plaque adjacent regions and to advanced plaques. These genes belong to many different functional classes. In particular, we observed the dys-regulation of genes encoding for enzymes involved in the arachidonic acid metabolism that lead to generation of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Conclusions: This is the first study in which the expression of a wide panel of inflammation-related genes was investigated. Results clarify the mechanisms of inflammation involvement during atherosclerotic process and highlight newpossible target for anti-inflammator y therapy in cardiovascular disease.