Inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in human atherogenesis: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study |
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| Authors: | Ida Perrotta Elvira Brunelli Alfonso Sciangula Valeria Zuccalà Giuseppe Donato Sandro Tripepi Gian Luca Martinelli Mauro Cassese |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan;2. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan;3. Division of Cardiology, Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan;4. Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;5. Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;6. Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;7. Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiaokang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;8. Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA;9. Department of Genome Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan;10. Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | BackgroundNitric oxide has been proven to play an important role in the maintenance of vascular tone and structure. Impairment of nitric oxide production is an early indicator of atherosclerosis, but not much is known about the real mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.MethodsIn the present study, immunocytochemical methods have been used to analyze the patterns of expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase proteins in healthy and atherosclerotic human aortae using both confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy.ResultsInduction of the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase proteins was observed in smooth muscle cells of atherosclerotic human aortae. Altered nitric oxide synthase expression was reported in atheromatous plaques and in apparently normal vascular tissues adjacent to the lesions.ConclusionsOur data confirm and extend previous findings of a direct relationship between dysregulation of nitric oxide pathway and atherosclerosis, suggesting another possible mechanism by which nitric oxide synthase system abnormalities may promote vascular dysfunction during human atherogenesis. Changes in nitric oxide production might be the primary step in the development of atheroma. |
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