NOX4 mRNA correlates with plaque stability in patients with carotid artery stenosis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) develops from atherosclerotic lesions and plaques. Plaque rupture or stenosis may result in occlusion of the carotid artery. Accordingly, the asymptomatic disease becomes symptomatic, characterized by ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks, indicating an urgent need for better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms and eventually prevent symptomatic CAS. NOX4, a member of the NADPH oxidase family, has anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory properties in animal models of early atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that NOX4 mRNA expression is linked to protective mechanisms in CAS patients with advanced atherosclerotic lesions as well. Indeed, NOX4 mRNA expression is lower in patients with symptomatic CAS. A low NOX4 mRNA expression is associated with an increased risk of the development of clinical symptoms. In fact, NOX4 appears to be linked to plaque stability, apoptosis and plaque hemorrhage. This is supported by cleaved caspase-3 and glycophorin C and correlates inversely with plaque NOX4 mRNA expression. Even healing of a ruptured plaque appears to be connected to NOX4, as NOX4 mRNA expression correlates to fibrous cap collagen and is reciprocally related to MMP9 activity. In conclusion, low intra-plaque NOX4 mRNA expression is associated with an increased risk for symptomatic outcome and with reduced plaque stabilizing mechanisms suggesting protective effects of NOX4 in human advanced atherosclerosis.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number102473
Number of pages11
JournalRedox biology
Volume57
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36182808
WOS 000867535700002
ORCID /0000-0001-7803-1972/work/142235076
PubMedCentral PMC9526188
ORCID /0000-0001-9360-9736/work/164198450

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Atherosclerosis, Carotid artery stenosis, NADPH oxidase 4, Plaques