Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 2004;110:1953-1959
Published online before print September 27, 2004, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000143174.41810.10
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
110/14/1953    most recent
01.CIR.0000143174.41810.10v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fukumoto, Y.
Right arrow Articles by Aikawa, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fukumoto, Y.
Right arrow Articles by Aikawa, M.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Gene*GEO Profiles
*HomoloGene*UniGene
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Coronary Artery Disease
Related Collections
Right arrow Pathophysiology
Right arrow Cell biology/structural biology
Right arrow Genetically altered mice
Right arrow Smooth muscle proliferation and differentiation
Right arrow Acute coronary syndromes
Right arrow Acute myocardial infarction
Right arrow Mechanism of atherosclerosis/growth factors

(Circulation. 2004;110:1953-1959.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.


Genetics

Genetically Determined Resistance to Collagenase Action Augments Interstitial Collagen Accumulation in Atherosclerotic Plaques

Yoshihiro Fukumoto, MD, PhD; Jun-o Deguchi, MD, PhD; Peter Libby, MD; Elena Rabkin-Aikawa, MD, PhD; Yasuhiko Sakata, MD, PhD; Michael T. Chin, MD, PhD; Christopher C. Hill, BA; Patrick R. Lawler, BS; Nerea Varo, PhD; Frederick J. Schoen, MD, PhD; Stephen M. Krane, MD; Masanori Aikawa, MD, PhD

From the Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, Department of Medicine (Y.F., J.D., Y.S., M.T.C., C.C.H., P.R.L., N.V.), and the Department of Pathology (E.R.-A., F.J.S.), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Department of Medicine (S.M.K.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

Correspondence to Masanori Aikawa, MD, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Ave Louis Pasteur, NRB741, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail maikawa{at}rics.bwh.harvard.edu

Received November 6, 2003; de novo received May 24, 2004; accepted May 26, 2004.


*    Abstract
up arrowTop
*Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Background— We hypothesized that collagenolytic activity produced by activated macrophages contributes to collagen loss and the subsequent instability of atheromatous lesions, a common trigger of acute coronary syndromes. However, no direct in vivo evidence links collagenases with the regulation of collagen content in atherosclerotic plaques.

Methods and Results— To test the hypothesis that collagenases influence the structure of atheromata, we examined collagen accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (apoE–/–) that express collagenase-resistant collagen-I (ColR/R/apoE–/–, n=12) or wild-type collagen-expressing mice (Col+/+/apoE–/–, n=12). Aortic atheromata of both groups had similar sizes and numbers of macrophages, a major source of collagenases. However, aortic intimas from ColR/R/apoE–/– mice contained fewer smooth muscle cells, a source of collagen, probably because of decreased migration or proliferation or increased cell death. Despite reduced numbers of smooth muscle cells, atheromata of ColR/R/apoE–/– mice contained significantly more intimal collagen than did those of Col+/+/apoE–/– mice.

Conclusion— These results establish that collagenase action regulates plaque collagen turnover and smooth muscle cell accumulation.


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Degradation of extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may play various critical roles in the progression and complications of atherosclerotic plaques. Atherosclerotic lesions prone to the onset of acute coronary syndromes usually contain abundant macrophages underlying a thin and collagen-poor fibrous cap.1,2 Extracellular matrix macromolecules, notably fibrillar interstitial collagens, confer tensile strength on the plaque’s fibrous cap.3 Indirect evidence suggests that macrophage expression of MMPs in atheromata weakens the plaque’s protective fibrous cap and promotes disruption and subsequent thrombosis.4–12 In particular, collagenases of the MMP family (MMP-1/collagenase-1, MMP-8/collagenase-2, and MMP-13/collagenase-3) break down fibrillar collagens.13 However, no direct in vivo evidence has determined that MMP-family collagenases regulate the interstitial collagen content of atheromata. Indeed, plaques also contain non-MMP collagenases, including cathepsin K, a potent cysteine proteinase that can degrade interstitial collagen.14 The relative contributions of MMP and non-MMP collagenases to collagen metabolism in the plaque remain unknown.

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) participate in the progression of atherosclerosis. Migration from the tunica media and the balance between proliferation and cell death determine SMC content in the intima. Although some studies suggest that MMPs may mediate SMC migration through the collagenous matrix of plaques,15–19 the in vivo role of collagenases in this context remains unproven.

Interstitial collagenases of the MMP family initiate degradation of type I collagen by cleavage at a single highly conserved site between Gly775 and Ile776 of the {alpha}1(I) chain. The present study used mice with a targeted mutation in both alleles of Col1a1 (Col1a1tml Jae or ColR/R) that yields amino acid substitutions around the collagenase cleavage site in the {alpha}1(I) chains that render collagen completely resistant to attack by MMP collagenases.20–22 We crossed ColR/R mice and apoE-deficient strain (apoE–/–) mice to test the specific biological hypothesis in vivo that MMP collagenases regulate collagen accumulation in intimal plaques, an aspect of plaque structure critical to the progression and complications of atherosclerosis.


*    Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Animal Preparation
ColR/R mice (C57BL/6x129) were backcrossed 7 generations into C57BL/6 mice and then crossed into apoE-deficient mice (apoE–/–, C57BL/6) to render ColR/R mice atherosclerosis susceptible. The procedure yielded ColR/R/apoE–/– and Col+/+/apoE–/– mice, as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based genotyping. ColR/R/apoE–/– (n=12) and Col+/+/apoE–/– (n=12) littermates consumed an atherogenic diet (semipurified chow containing 1.25% cholesterol and 0% cholate) for 10 weeks. All experiments conformed to a protocol approved by the Standing Committee on Animals of Harvard Medical School.

Tissue Preparation
Mice were anesthetized and perfused with phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) through a 23-gauge cannula in the left ventricle. The hearts were subsequently immersed in saline for 1 hour and then with 4% phosphate-buffered paraformaldehyde (pH 7.4) for an additional 48 hours. Hearts dissected in the region of the proximal aorta23 were embedded in paraffin, and 5-µm serial sections were cut. Histological analyses used sections {approx}50 µm above the beginning of the aortic sinuses. The aortas for RNA extraction were harvested, and the adventitia was removed while being viewed under a microscope.

Histological Assays
Immunohistochemistry studies included use of a mouse monoclonal antibody against human {alpha}-SM actin (Dako) with a kit for mouse antibodies on mouse tissue (InnoGenex), rat monoclonal antibody against mouse macrophages (Mac3, PharMingen), rabbit polyclonal antibody against MMP-13/collagenase-3 (a gift from Dr C. William Wu, University of Tennessee, Memphis),24 rabbit polyclonal anti-mouse cathepsin K (Santa Cruz), or nonimmune rabbit IgG as a negative control. The peptide at the linker region between propeptide and catalytic domains (PNPKHPKTPEK) was chosen from the amino acid sequence of mouse MMP-13/collagenase-3 to raise the specific antibody. The sequence of this peptide significantly differs from all other proteins including MMPs (E values >4.7, NCBI Blast). A mouse proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining kit (Zymed) and ApopTaq Plus (Intergen) were used to determine cell proliferation and death. We analyzed picrosirius red staining under polarized light to detect interstitial collagen.8

Peritoneal Macrophage Culture
Four days after an intraperitoneal injection of 4.1% thioglycollate, primary peritoneal macrophages were harvested from mice and cultured with Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM). After incubation with DMEM containing 10% fetal calf serum for 24 hours, the culture media of adherent cells were changed to fresh DMEM with or without 10% fetal calf serum and incubated for 72 hours.

RT-PCR and Western Blotting
Total RNA was extracted from peritoneal macrophages (n=3 per group) and mouse aortas (pooled, n=3 per group) and reverse-transcribed (RT). Real-time PCR used SYBR Green PCR master mix and the ABI PRISM 5600 sequence detection system (Applied Biosystems). Oligonucleotide primer pairs used to recognize mouse mRNAs included MMP-8, 5'-CAA-CCT-ATT-TCT-CGT-GGC-TG -3'and 5'-TGC-AGG-TCA-TAG-CCA-CTT-AG-3'; MMP13, 5'-TCC-CTT-GAT-GCC-ATT-ACC-AGT-C-3' and 5'-AAA-AAG-AGC-TCA-GCC-TCA-ACC-TG; {alpha}1 procollagen-I, 5'-AAG-GTG-CTG-ATG-GTT-CTC-C-3' and 5'-TCT-TTC-TCC-TCT-CTG-ACC-G-3'; and ß-actin (internal control), 5'-CAC-ACT-GTG-CCC-ATC-TAC-GA-3' and 5'-GTT-TCA-TGG-ATG-CCA-CAG-GA-3'.

Cell lysates for Western blotting from peritoneal macrophages were obtained with use of a buffer containing 125 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 6.8, 20% glycerol, 4.6% sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 10% mercaptoethanol. Western blotting used the same rabbit polyclonal antibody against MMP-13/collagenase-3 as for immunohistochemistry.

Preparation of Mouse SMCs and Migration Assay
Isolation of mouse SMCs for migration assay was adapted from the method of Gunther et al.25 Aortas from C57BL/6 mice were digested with 1 mg/mL collagenase type II (Worthington). After the endothelium and adventitia were carefully removed, aortas were chopped and digested with type I collagenase (1 mg/mL, Worthington) and elastase III (0.125 mg/mL, Sigma). Cells were then cultured and passaged. SMC migration was evaluated with dual-chamber 24-well plates with 8-µm polycarbonate membranes (Costar) coated with 10 µg/mL collagen solution extracted from Col+/+/apoE–/– or ColR/R/apoE–/– mice.20 The lower chambers were filled with DMEM with or without 1 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and 40 000 cells were added to the upper chambers. After incubation for 4 hours, cells that had migrated to the lower surface of the membrane were fixed, stained with use of the Protocol HEMA3 staining kit (Fisher), and counted in 4 x100 fields per well.

Quantitative Analysis and Statistics
Quantitative analysis of histological assays used a digital imaging system as previously described.8,12 In brief, images were transferred into an ImagePro image analysis system (Media Cybernetics). A color threshold mask for immunostaining was defined by sampling the red color, and the same threshold was applied to all specimens. The percentage of the total area with positive color for each section was recorded. For picrosirius red staining, a negative background (black) was chosen for thresholding, and the positive area was calculated by subtraction. Two investigators performed these analyses independently and without knowledge of genotype. Interobserver correlation was excellent (r=0.98). Differences between the 2 groups or among multiple groups were determined by the Mann-Whitney U test or 1-way ANOVA followed by Fisher test, respectively.


*    Results
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Plasma Lipids
On the atherogenic diet, plasma total cholesterol levels in ColR/R/apoE–/– mice (n=12, 1113±118 mg/dL) and Col+/+/apoE–/– mice (atherosclerotic wild-type, n=12, 1279±202 mg/dL) did not differ.

Alterations in Endogenous Collagenase and Procollagen Expression
Previous animal studies demonstrated disparate results with regard to the role of MMPs on atheroma burden.26–30 In aortic atheromata from cholesterol-fed ColR/R/apoE–/– and Col+/+/apoE–/– mice, lesion areas were similar (Figures 1A–1C). Collagenase resistance also did not change macrophage areas and areas where cells expressed MMP-13/collagenase-3 (Figures 1A–1C). We furthermore observed no significant difference in areas immunopositive for cathepsin K, a major non-MMP collagenase (data not shown, P=0.78) We then evaluated possible alterations in endogenous collagenase expression in response to collagenase resistance. Levels of MMP-8/collagenase-2 and MMP-13/collagenase-3 mRNAs by real-time RT-PCR on thioglycollate-stimulated peritoneal macrophages were similar in both groups of mice (Figure 2A). However, macrophage expression of MMP-13/collagenase-3 appeared to be more abundant than that of MMP-8/collagenase-2 (Figure 2A). Protein expression of latent and active MMP-13/collagenase-3 in both groups as evaluated from Western blots was similar (pro-MMP-13, {approx}57 kDa; active MMP-13, {approx}45 kDa with subsequent autolytic cleavage to a 20-kDa form; Figure 2B). Absorption by the same peptide that was used to raise the antibody (PNPKHPKTPEK) diminished these bands. These results indicate that collagenase resistance did not affect the capacity of macrophages to express collagenases.



View larger version (91K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Immunohistochemistry results for macrophages and MMP-13/collagenase-3 in aortic atheromata of ColR/R/apoE–/– (n=12) and Col+/+/apoE–/– (n=12) mice. A, Atheromata of Col+/+/apoE–/– and ColR/R/apoE–/– mice showed macrophage accumulation in intima, as detected by Mac-3 antibody. B, Atheromata of Col+/+/apoE–/– and ColR/R/apoE–/– mice stained positively for MMP-13/collagenase-3. Scale bar=50 µm. C, Quantitative analysis for intimal areas, macrophage accumulation, and MMP-13/collagenase-3–immunopositive areas in atheromata. NS indicate nonsignificant. Bars represent mean±SEM. Abbreviations are as defined in text.



View larger version (48K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting for MMP-collagenases. A, Cultured peritoneal macrophages from Col+/+ and ColR/R mice (n=3 each) produced similar levels of MMP-8/collagenase-2 and MMP-13/collagenase-3 mRNAs. Macrophage expression of MMP-13/collagenase-3 appears to be more abundant than that of MMP-8/collagenase-2. NS indicates nonsignificant. Bars represent mean±SEM. B, Western blot analysis of lysates of cultured peritoneal macrophages in presence or absence of 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) detected similar levels of MMP-13/collagenase-3 protein (proMMP-13 of 57 kDa, active form of 45 kDa, and 20-kDa cleaved form between Col+/+ and ColR/R mice. Peptide absorption markedly reduced these bands. Three independent experiments show similar results. C, Aortas (n=3, pooled) from Col+/+/apoE–/– and ColR/R/apoE–/– mice had similar levels of MMP-8/collagenase-2 mRNA. Collagenase resistance increased MMP-13/collagenase-3 mRNA and decreased mRNA encoding {alpha}1 chain of type I procollagen in apoE–/– mice (3 experiments from pooled samples, n=3). All other abbreviations are as defined in text.

We further examined levels of mRNAs encoding collagenases in the aortas. Real-time RT-PCR showed an increase in MMP-13/collagenase-3 mRNA levels and a decrease in {alpha}1 type I procollagen mRNA levels in aortas from ColR/R/apoE–/– mice compared with those from Col+/+/apoE–/– mice (n=3 each, pooled), whereas MMP-8/collagenase-2 mRNA levels did not change substantially (Figure 2C). Levels of mRNA encoding Mcol-A, a possible mouse orthologue of MMP-1/collagenase-1,31 were below the limits of detectability in these assays (data not shown).

Collagenase-Resistant Mice Have Fewer Intimal SMCs
SMCs synthesize most arterial collagen. Atheromata of ColR/R/apoE–/– mice contained significantly fewer SMCs than did those of Col+/+/apoE–/– mice (Figures 3A and 3B). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen and terminal dUTP nick end-labeling staining indicated decreased proliferation and increased death of intimal SMCs in ColR/R/apoE–/– mice compared with Col+/+/apoE–/– mice (Figure 4A and 4B). SMCs enter the intima by migration from the tunica media or from the blood. To determine whether collagenase resistance influences the ability of SMCs to migrate, we performed in vitro migration assay with dual-chamber plates. Because the current study used compound-mutant mice for the substrate, not for enzymes, we measured the traversal of wild-type SMCs from C57BL6 mice through polycarbonate filters coated with a layer of interstitial collagen extracted from Col+/+/apoE–/– or ColR/R/apoE–/– mice. This assay showed a decreased ability of SMCs to migrate through collagenase-resistant collagen compared with wild-type collagen (Figure 4C and 4D).



View larger version (84K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. SMC accumulation in atheromata. A, Intima of aortic sinus of Col+/+/apoE–/– mice had more SMC accumulation, as determined by immunohistochemistry for {alpha}-smooth muscle actin than did ColR/R/apoE–/– mice. Scale bar=50 µm. B, Quantitative analyses indicate that atheromata of Col+/+/apoE–/– mice (n=12) had significantly greater SMC number and area than did ColR/R/apoE–/– mice (n=12). Bars represent mean±SEM. Abbreviations are as defined in text.



View larger version (58K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. SMC proliferation and death in atheromata and migration in vitro. A, Double immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA; red/brown nuclei) and {alpha}-actin (blue cytoplasm) and terminal dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL assay; red/brown nuclei). Atheroma of Col+/+/apoE–/– mouse contained several PCNA/{alpha}-actin double-positive cells (arrows, left) in SMC layer where no TUNEL-positive cells were observed (insert). In contrast, few intimal SMCs of ColR/R/apoE–/– were stained positively by TUNEL (arrows, right insert) but not by PCNA antibody. B, Quantitative analyses of PCNA-positive and TUNEL-positive SMCs in aortic intima of Col+/+/apoE–/– mice (n=12) and ColR/R/apoE–/– mice (n=12). Bars represent mean±SEM. C, Decreased migration of mouse SMCs in vitro (stained blue by hematoxylin and eosin, arrows) toward platelet derived growth factor-BB (1 ng/mL) through membranes coated with collagen obtained from ColR/R/apoE–/– mice compared with that from Col+/+/apoE–/– mice. Scale bar=100 µm. D, Quantitative analysis for numbers of migrated SMCs with or without 1 mg/mL PDGF-BB treatment (n=4). All other abbreviations are as defined in text.

Collagenase Resistance Increases Collagen Content in the Intima of Aortic Atheromata of ApoE–/– Mice
The tunica intima of aortic atheromata of Col+/+/apoE–/– mice exhibited patchy accumulation of interstitial collagen, as determined by picrosirius red staining analyzed by polarization (Figure 5A). However, the aortic intimas of ColR/R/apoE–/– mice contained substantially more interstitial collagen than did those of Col+/+/apoE–/– mice. Quantitative analyses of picrosirius red birefringence in the intima indicated that collagenase resistance significantly increased collagen content in terms of absolute area, percentage area, and area divided by SMC number, a major source of collagen production (Figure 5B).



View larger version (79K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. Interstitial collagen accumulation in intima of aortic atheromata of Col+/+/apoE–/– and ColR/R/apoE–/– mice. A, Top panels, Picrosirius red staining without polarization. Bottom panels, Picrosirius red staining viewed under polarized light to show fibrillar collagens in same sections shown in top panels. Left, Aorta of Col+/+/apoE–/– mouse shows interstitial collagen in intima and adventitia. Right, Aorta of ColR/R/apoE–/– mouse shows more interstitial collagen in intima than in Col+/+/apoE–/– mice. Scale bar=500 µm. B, Quantitative analyses of picrosirius red birefringence in intima indicate that ColR/R/apoE–/– mice (n=12) had more collagen than did Col+/+/apoE–/– mice (n=12) in terms of absolute areas, percent areas, and areas divided by SMC number. Bars represent mean±SEM. Abbreviations are as defined in text.


*    Discussion
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
We previously advanced the hypothesis that a highly regulated balance of synthesis and degradation determines collagen content in the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaques.1,2 In turn, collagen levels critically influence the integrity of the plaque’s cap, a structure whose biomechanical failure may cause most myocardial infarctions. Earlier indirect evidence suggested that collagenases of the MMP family can regulate collagen content in the plaque.5–12 We initially demonstrated overexpression of the prototypical interstitial collagenase MMP-1 in human atheromata5 and later showed colocalization of MMP-1/collagenase-1 and MMP-13/collagenase-3 with degraded collagen in these lesions as detected by an antibody specific for the collagenase cleavage site of collagen.9 Recently, our group showed that human atheromata contain a third interstitial collagenase, MMP-8/collagenase-2,11 also present in mouse atheromata, as shown here (Figure 2C). Shah et al32 reported that conditioned media of cultured macrophages could digest collagen obtained from the human fibrous cap and that addition of a nonselective MMP inhibitor blocked this process in vitro. Moreover, we demonstrated that lipid lowering in hypercholesterolemic rabbits decreased collagenase expression and, in parallel, increased collagen accumulation in atheromata, suggesting a potential role for collagenases in collagen metabolism and stability in atheromata.8,33 Lemaitre et al30 reported that macrophage-selective overexpression of human MMP-1/collagenase-1 in apoE-deficient mice decreased lesion size, although they did not provide quantitative analysis of collagen accumulation in the lesions. Our present study indicates that impaired collagen degradation due to introduction of collagenase resistance increased the content of this extracellular matrix component in the atherosclerotic intima, despite reduced numbers of SMCs and procollagen-I expression. These results thus demonstrate directly in vivo a critical role for collagenolysis in determining the collagen turnover of plaques. Moreover, they suggest that regulation of the levels of degradation (by MMP collagenases) outweighs the contribution of synthesis (by SMCs) to collagen accumulation in the atherosclerotic plaque.

The reduced SMC accumulation in atheromata was an unexpected phenotype of these compound-mutant mice. The mechanistic studies presented here suggest that a combination of decreased migration, decreased proliferation, and/or increased cell death contribute to the relative paucity of SMCs in plaques of ColR/R/apoE–/– mice. These results agree with previous studies that showed that native, undegraded interstitial collagen can limit SMC proliferation and that SMC migration in vitro depends in large part on MMP action.15–19,34 Our finding of increased apoptosis in SMCs resembles the increased apoptosis observed in osteoblasts and osteocytes in ColR/R mice.22 ColR/R mice also display increased collagen accumulation in the wounded dermis and in experimental hepatic cirrhosis.35,36

The present study supports an in vivo role for collagen breakdown by MMP-family collagenases in the regulation of the collagenous skeleton of atheromata, an important determinant of the plaque’s propensity to provoke an acute thrombotic event in patients. Regulation of collagen biology also has profound effects on SMC functions, as shown here. Our findings underscore the importance of the regulation of collagen metabolism in the pathophysiology of the atherosclerotic plaque.


*    Acknowledgments
 
This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants SCOR HL-56985 (to Drs Libby and Aikawa), P01 HL-48743 (to Dr Libby), and AR-44185 (to Dr Krane) and by Banyu/Merck and Uehara Fellowship Awards (to Dr Fukumoto). We acknowledge Dr C. William Wu, University of Tennessee, for the MMP-13 antibody and his valuable insights on this work. We also thank Karen E. Williams for her editorial expertise.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 
1. Libby P. Molecular bases of the acute coronary syndromes. Circulation. 1995; 91: 2844–2850.[Free Full Text]

2. Aikawa M, Libby P. The vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque; pathogenesis and therapeutic approach. Cardiovasc Pathol. 2004; 13: 125–138.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

3. Lee RT, Libby P. The unstable atheroma. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1997; 17: 1859–1867.[Free Full Text]

4. Henney AM, Wakeley PR, Davies MJ, et al. Localization of stromelysin gene expression in atherosclerotic plaques by in situ hybridization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991; 88: 8154–8158.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

5. Galis ZS, Sukhova GK, Lark MW, et al. Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases and matrix degrading activity in vulnerable regions of human atherosclerotic plaques. J Clin Invest. 1994; 94: 2493–503.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

6. Nikkari ST, O’Brien KD, Ferguson M, et al. Interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) expression in human carotid atherosclerosis. Circulation. 1995; 92: 1393–1398.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

7. Carmeliet P, Moons L, Lijnen R, et al. Urokinase-generated plasmin activates matrix metalloproteinases during aneurysm formation. Nat Genet. 1997; 17: 439–444.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

8. Aikawa M, Rabkin E, Okada Y, et al. Lipid lowering by diet reduces matrix metalloproteinase activity and increases collagen content of rabbit atheroma: a potential mechanism of lesion stabilization. Circulation. 1998; 97: 2433–2444.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

9. Sukhova G, Schoenbeck U, Rabkin E, et al. Evidence of increased collagenolysis by interstitial collagenases-1 and -3 in vulnerable human atheromatous plaques. Circulation. 1999; 99: 2503–2509.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

10. Aikawa M, Rabkin E, Sugiyama S, et al. An HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, cerivastatin, suppresses growth of macrophages expressing matrix metalloproteinases and tissue factor in vivo and in vitro. Circulation. 2001; 103: 276–283.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

11. Herman MP, Sukhova GK, Libby P, et al. Expression of neutrophil collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-8) in human atheroma: a novel collagenolytic pathway suggested by transcriptional profiling. Circulation. 2001; 104: 1899–1904.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

12. Fukumoto Y, Libby P, Rabkin E, et al. Statins alter smooth muscle cell accumulation and collagen content in established atheroma of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits. Circulation. 2001; 103: 993–999.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

13. Brinckerhoff CE, Matrisian LM. Matrix metalloproteinases: a tail of a frog that became a prince. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2002; 3: 207–214.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

14. Sukhova GK, Shi GP, Simon DI, et al. Expression of the elastolytic cathepsins S and K in human atheroma and regulation of their production in smooth muscle cells. J Clin Invest. 1998; 102: 576–583.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

15. Kenagy RD, Clowes AW. A possible role for MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the migration of primate arterial smooth muscle cells through native matrix. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994; 732: 462–465.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

16. Bendeck MP, Irvin C, Reidy MA. Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity inhibits smooth muscle cell migration but not neointimal thickening after arterial injury. Circ Res. 1996; 78: 38–43.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

17. Prescott MF, Sawyer WK, Von Linden-Reed J, et al. Effect of matrix metalloproteinase inhibition on progression of atherosclerosis and aneurysm in LDL receptor-deficient mice overexpressing MMP-3, MMP-12, and MMP-13 and on restenosis in rats after balloon injury. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999; 878: 179–190.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

18. Cowan KN, Jones PL, Rabinovitch M. Regression of hypertrophied rat pulmonary arteries in organ culture is associated with suppression of proteolytic activity, inhibition of tenascin-C, and smooth muscle cell apoptosis. Circ Res. 1999; 84: 1223–1233.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

19. Kuzuya M, Kanda S, Sasaki T, et al. Deficiency of gelatinase a suppresses smooth muscle cell invasion and development of experimental intimal hyperplasia. Circulation. 2003; 108: 1375–1381.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

20. Liu X, Wu H, Byrne M, et al. A targeted mutation at the known collagenase cleavage site in mouse type I collagen impairs tissue remodeling. J Cell Biol. 1995; 130: 227–237.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

21. Zhao W, Byrne MH, Boyce BF, et al. Bone resorption induced by parathyroid hormone is strikingly diminished in collagenase-resistant mutant mice. J Clin Invest. 1999; 103: 517–524.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

22. Zhao W, Byrne MH, Wang Y, et al. Osteocyte and osteoblast apoptosis and excessive bone deposition accompany failure of collagenase cleavage of collagen. J Clin Invest. 2000; 106: 941–949.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

23. Paigen B, Morrow A, Holmes P, et al. Quantitative assessment of atherosclerotic lesions in mice. Atherosclerosis. 1987; 68: 231–240.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

24. Wu CW, Tchetina EV, Mwale F, et al. Proteolysis involving matrix metalloproteinase 13 (collagenase-3) is required for chondrocyte differentiation that is associated with matrix mineralization. J Bone Miner Res. 2002; 17: 639–651.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

25. Gunther S, Alexander RW, Atkinson WJ, et al. Functional angiotensin II receptors in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. J Cell Biol. 1982; 92: 289–298.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

26. Rouis M, Adamy C, Duverger N, et al. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of issue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 reduces atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Circulation. 1999; 100: 533–540.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

27. Dollery CM, Humphries SE, McClelland A, et al. Expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 1 by use of an adenoviral vector inhibits smooth muscle cell migration and reduces neointimal hyperplasia in the rat model of vascular balloon injury. Circulation. 1999; 99: 3199–3205.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

28. Silence J, Collen D, Lijnen HR. Reduced atherosclerotic plaque but enhanced aneurysm formation in mice with inactivation of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) gene. Circ Res. 2002; 90: 897–903.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

29. Silence J, Lupu F, Collen D, et al. Persistence of atherosclerotic plaque but reduced aneurysm formation in mice with stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) gene inactivation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2001; 21: 1440–1445.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

30. Lemaitre V, O’Byrne TK, Borczuk AC, et al. ApoE knockout mice expressing human matrix metalloproteinase-1 in macrophages have less advanced atherosclerosis. J Clin Invest. 2001; 107: 1227–1234.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

31. Balbin M, Fueyo A, Knauper V, et al. Identification and enzymatic characterization of two diverging murine counterparts of human interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) expressed at sites of embryo implantation. J Biol Chem. 2001; 276: 10253–10262.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

32. Shah PK, Falk E, Badimon JJ, et al. Human monocyte-derived macrophages induce collagen breakdown in fibrous caps of atherosclerotic plaques: potential role of matrix-degrading metalloproteinases and implications for plaque rupture. Circulation. 1995; 92: 1565–1569.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

33. Libby P, Aikawa M. Stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques: new mechanisms and clinical targets. Nat Med. 2002; 8: 1257–1262.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

34. Koyama H, Raines EW, Bornfeldt KE, et al. Fibrillar collagen inhibits arterial smooth muscle proliferation through regulation of Cdk2 inhibitors. Cell. 1996; 87: 1069–1078.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

35. Issa R, Zhou X, Trim N, et al. Mutation in collagen-1 that confers resistance to the action of collagenase results in failure of recovery from CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, persistence of activated hepatic stellate cells, and diminished hepatocyte regeneration. FASEB J. 2003; 17: 47–49.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

36. Beare AH, O’Kane S, Krane SM, et al. Severely impaired wound healing in the collagenase-resistant mouse. J Invest Dermatol. 2003; 120: 153–163.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
J.-o Deguchi, H. Yamazaki, E. Aikawa, and M. Aikawa
Chronic Hypoxia Activates the Akt and {beta}-Catenin Pathways in Human Macrophages
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, October 1, 2009; 29(10): 1664 - 1670.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Lipid Res.Home page
P. Libby
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis
J. Lipid Res., April 1, 2009; 50(Supplement): S352 - S357.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Vasc MedHome page
E. Adiguzel, P. J Ahmad, C. Franco, and M. P Bendeck
Collagens in the progression and complications of atherosclerosis
Vascular Medicine, February 1, 2009; 14(1): 73 - 89.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Circ. Res.Home page
C. Franco, G. Hou, P. J. Ahmad, E. Y.K. Fu, L. Koh, W. F. Vogel, and M. P. Bendeck
Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 (Ddr1) Deletion Decreases Atherosclerosis by Accelerating Matrix Accumulation and Reducing Inflammation in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Deficient Mice
Circ. Res., May 23, 2008; 102(10): 1202 - 1211.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
F. Schneider, G. K. Sukhova, M. Aikawa, J. Canner, N. Gerdes, S.-M. T. Tang, G.-P. Shi, S. S. Apte, and P. Libby
Matrix Metalloproteinase-14 Deficiency in Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Promotes Collagen Accumulation in Mouse Atherosclerotic Plaques
Circulation, February 19, 2008; 117(7): 931 - 939.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
E. Fung, S.-M. T. Tang, J. P. Canner, K. Morishige, J. F. Arboleda-Velasquez, A. A. Cardoso, N. Carlesso, J. C. Aster, and M. Aikawa
Delta-Like 4 Induces Notch Signaling in Macrophages: Implications for Inflammation
Circulation, June 12, 2007; 115(23): 2948 - 2956.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
P. Libby
Perplexity of Plaque Proteinases
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, October 1, 2006; 26(10): 2181 - 2182.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
J.-o Deguchi, M. Aikawa, C.-H. Tung, E. Aikawa, D.-E. Kim, V. Ntziachristos, R. Weissleder, and P. Libby
Inflammation in Atherosclerosis: Visualizing Matrix Metalloproteinase Action in Macrophages In Vivo
Circulation, July 4, 2006; 114(1): 55 - 62.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
F. A. Jaffer, P. Libby, and R. Weissleder
Molecular and Cellular Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Emerging Applications
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 4, 2006; 47(7): 1328 - 1338.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
C. M. Dollery and P. Libby
Atherosclerosis and proteinase activation
Cardiovasc Res, February 15, 2006; 69(3): 625 - 635.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Circ. Res.Home page
E. Pearce, D.-A. Tregouet, A. Samnegard, A. R. Morgan, C. Cox, A. Hamsten, P. Eriksson, and S. Ye
Haplotype Effect of the Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Gene on Risk of Myocardial Infarction
Circ. Res., November 11, 2005; 97(10): 1070 - 1076.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
J.-O Deguchi, E. Aikawa, P. Libby, J. R. Vachon, M. Inada, S. M. Krane, P. Whittaker, and M. Aikawa
Matrix Metalloproteinase-13/Collagenase-3 Deletion Promotes Collagen Accumulation and Organization in Mouse Atherosclerotic Plaques
Circulation, October 25, 2005; 112(17): 2708 - 2715.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
110/14/1953    most recent
01.CIR.0000143174.41810.10v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fukumoto, Y.
Right arrow Articles by Aikawa, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fukumoto, Y.
Right arrow Articles by Aikawa, M.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Gene*GEO Profiles
*HomoloGene*UniGene
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Coronary Artery Disease
Related Collections
Right arrow Pathophysiology
Right arrow Cell biology/structural biology
Right arrow Genetically altered mice
Right arrow Smooth muscle proliferation and differentiation
Right arrow Acute coronary syndromes
Right arrow Acute myocardial infarction
Right arrow Mechanism of atherosclerosis/growth factors