Document Detail


Intracranial arteries of human fetuses are more resistant to hypercholesterolemia-induced fatty streak formation than extracranial arteries.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10209005     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic lesions in intracranial arteries occur later and are less extensive than in extracranial arteries. To investigate potential mechanisms responsible for this difference, in particular the atherogenic response to hypercholesterolemia and LDL oxidation, we compared the extent of fatty streak formation and the composition of these very early lesions in intracranial arteries of human fetuses from normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic mothers with those in extracranial arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lesions were quantified by computer-assisted image analysis of 30 oil red O-stained sections, each from the middle cerebral, basilar, and common carotid arteries and the abdominal aorta of human fetuses (spontaneous abortions and premature newborns who died within 12 hours of birth; both of fetal age 6.2+/-1.3 months) from 43 hypercholesterolemic mothers and 34 normocholesterolemic mothers. Macrophages, apolipoprotein B, and 2 epitopes of oxidized LDL in lesions were determined immunocytochemically. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the arterial wall were also determined. Lesion numbers and sizes were dramatically greater in the abdominal aorta (area of the largest lesion per section: 66.5+/-10.9 x10(3) microm2) and the carotid (11. 6+/-5.3 x10(3) microm2) than in the basilar and middle cerebral artery (0.4+/-0.1 and 0.8+/-0.2 x10(3) microm2, respectively; P<0. 0001). Hypercholesterolemia resulted in a significant increase of lesion size in extracranial arteries but only a marginal increase in intracranial arteries. In analogy, hypercholesterolemia induced a much greater increase in the intimal presence of macrophages, apolipoprotein B, and oxidized LDL (oxidation-specific epitopes) in extracranial than in intracranial arteries. Immunocytochemistry did not indicate that lesions of intracranial arteries contain relatively less oxidized LDL than similar-size lesions of extracranial arteries. Activities of Mn-superoxide dismutase but not of Zn-superoxide dismutase, catalase, or glutathione peroxidase were significantly higher in both intracranial arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to hypercholesterolemia during fetal development results in extensive formation of fatty streaks in extracranial but not intracranial arteries. The fact that such a difference in lesion formation occurs in the absence of many other atherogenic risk factors found later in life suggests that differences in the atherogenic response to hypercholesterolemia are an important contributor to the slower onset of the disease in intracranial vessels in adults. Fetal arteries may allow elucidation of the mechanisms responsible, for example, better protection of intracranial arteries against free radical-mediated atherogenic processes.
Authors:
C Napoli; J L Witztum; F de Nigris; G Palumbo; F P D'Armiento; W Palinski
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Circulation     Volume:  99     ISSN:  1524-4539     ISO Abbreviation:  Circulation     Publication Date:  1999 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1999-04-30     Completed Date:  1999-04-30     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0147763     Medline TA:  Circulation     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  2003-10     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Italy.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abortion, Spontaneous
Adult
Aorta, Abdominal / embryology*,  enzymology,  pathology
Arteriosclerosis / embryology,  etiology*,  pathology
Carotid Artery, Common / embryology*,  enzymology,  pathology
Catalase / analysis
Cerebral Arteries / embryology*,  enzymology,  pathology
Female
Fetal Diseases / etiology*,  pathology
Free Radicals
Gestational Age
Glutathione Peroxidase / analysis
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia / physiopathology*
Immunity, Innate
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Lipid Peroxidation
Lipids / analysis
Male
Organ Specificity
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / blood,  physiopathology*
Superoxide Dismutase / analysis
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
HL-56989/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS; M01-RR00827/RR/NCRR NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Free Radicals; 0/Lipids; EC 1.11.1.6/Catalase; EC 1.11.1.9/Glutathione Peroxidase; EC 1.15.1.1/Superoxide Dismutase

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