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. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
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 humanatherosclerotic 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. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
Authors: J E Fabre; M Nguyen; K Athirakul; K Coggins; J D McNeish; S Austin; L K Parise; G A FitzGerald; T M Coffman; B H Koller Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 2001-03 Impact factor: 14.808
Authors: Rosario Jimenez; Elizabeth Belcher; Shiranee Sriskandan; Ruth Lucas; Shaun McMaster; Ivana Vojnovic; Timothy D Warner; Jane A Mitchell Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2005-03-08 Impact factor: 11.205