mRNA Expression of thrombospondin 1, 2 and 3 from proximal to distal in human abdominal aortic aneurysm – preliminary report

Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a process involving the disruption and reconstruction of the extracellular matrix and the apoptosis of smooth muscle cells under the strong influence of the immune system. Thrombospondins are proteins that influence a wide range of cell-matrix interactions. While THBS1 and THBS2 are widely studied, the effects of THBS3 on extracellular matrix and vascular cells are poorly understood. Additionally, it is not known whether expression of these genes’ changes along the aneurysm tissue. Here we analyzed the expression of THBSs mRNA isolated from the harvested tissues along the aneurysm divided into three zones based on their morphology. Total mRNA was isolated from 13 male patients undergoing scheduled open aortic repair, with each aneurysm divided into a proximal part, an aneurysm bag, and a distal part with border tissue as a control. Two step real-time PCR analysis with random hexamers was performed, which allowed the detection of significantly increased expression of all analyzed thrombospondins, especially THBS3, at the control tissue. Overexpression of THBSs may have a destabilizing effect on the structure of the extracellular matrix by affecting both the matrix producing cells and by inhibiting the activity of matrix proteins.