Reactive oxygen species induce RNA damage in human atherosclerosis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced DNA damage has recently been identified in both human and experimental atherosclerosis. This study was undertaken to investigate whether RNA damage occurs in human atherosclerotic plaques and whether this could be related to oxidative stress.

The integrity of total RNA isolated from carotid endarterectomy specimens (n = 20) and nonatherosclerotic mammary arteries (n = 20) was analyzed using an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyser (Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA). Oxidative modifications of RNA were detected by immunohistochemistry.

Eleven out of 20 atherosclerotic plaques showed a significant reduction of the 18S/28S rRNA peaks and a shift in the RNA electropherogram to shorter fragment sizes. In contrast, all mammary arteries showed good-quality RNA with clear 18S and 28S rRNA peaks. Strong nuclear and cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for oxidative damage marker 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-guanosine (8-oxoG) could be detected in the entire plaque in smooth muscle cells (SMCs), macrophages and endothelial cells, but not in SMCs of adjacent normal media or in mammary arteries. Cytoplasmic 8-oxoG staining in the plaque clearly diminished when tissue sections were pretreated with RNase A, suggesting oxidative base damage of RNA. In vitro treatment of total RNA with ROS-releasing compounds induced RNA degradation.

Both loss of RNA integrity and 8-oxoG oxidative modifications were found in human atherosclerotic plaques. Because RNA damage may affect in vitro transcript quantification, RT-PCR results must be interpreted cautiously if independent experimental validation (e.g. evaluation of RNA integrity) is lacking.