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A Model of Disturbed Flow-Induced Atherosclerosis in Mouse Carotid Artery by Partial Ligation and a Simple Method of RNA Isolation from Carotid Endothelium
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A Model of Disturbed Flow-Induced Atherosclerosis in Mouse Carotid Artery by Partial Ligation and a Simple Method of RNA Isolation from Carotid Endothelium

Published on: June 22, 2010

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase is not associated with carotid intima-media thickness in

Salvatore Campo1, Maria A Sardo, Alessandra Bitto

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Statistical Science, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Clinical Chemistry
|September 15, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) gene variants do not appear to influence PAF-AH activity or atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic individuals. This study found no significant differences in PAF-AH polymorphisms related to carotid artery intima-media thickness.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a complex chronic disease influenced by factors like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and oxidized LDL.
  • Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes PAF and prevents LDL oxidation, potentially delaying atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between specific PAF-AH gene polymorphisms (Arg92His, Ile198Thr, Ala379Val) and carotid atherosclerosis.
  • To determine if these polymorphisms affect PAF-AH activity and intima-media thickness in hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 190 hypercholesterolemic Sicilian individuals.
  • Measured carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT) as an indicator of atherosclerosis.
  • Analyzed PAF-AH gene polymorphisms, PAF-AH activity, and various clinical and biochemical parameters.

Main Results:

  • A significant correlation was found between PAF-AH activity and LDL concentrations in hypercholesterolemic patients.
  • No significant differences in PAF-AH gene polymorphisms were detected between groups with normal and abnormal IMT after adjusting for confounding factors.
  • Plasma PAF-AH activity did not significantly correlate with HDL levels in either IMT group.

Conclusions:

  • The study found no evidence that the investigated PAF-AH gene polymorphisms influence PAF-AH activity or the presence of atherosclerosis.
  • These findings suggest that PAF-AH polymorphisms may not be significant determinants of atherosclerosis in this hypercholesterolemic population.
Abstract

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