Effects Of Inducible Cyclooxygenase And CD40 Ligand On Vulnerability Of Atherosclerosis Plaque Lesions

Objective: To study Effects of Inducible Cyclooxygenase and CD40 Ligand on Vulnerability of atherosclerotic Plaque Lesions.Method: 1. Rabbits aorta specimens were measured by HE staining and immunohistochemical staining of COX-1,COX-2,MMP-2 and I /III collagen.2. Pretreated U937 cells with rhCD40L and Zymography was performed by SDS-PAGE.3. pCOLH₂2.4 and pCOLH₂1.6, a plasmid containing PCAT3-Enhancer, were transfected into human VSMCs using Lipofectamin transfection reagent. The expression of target gene and protein were measured by CAT ELISA kit. 4. Pretreated U937 cells with rhCD40L, COX-2 mRNA and protein expression were observed by RT-PCR and Western-blot respectively. PGE2 As to the COX-2 enzyme activity, were measured by ELISA. Results and conclusion: 1.COX-2 was induced in atherosclerotic plaque lesions, implicated a relationship between COX-2 and plaque vulnerability, which maybe improved by COX-2 inhibition.2. The effect of CD40L on plaque vulnerability rely on up-regulation COX-2 activity partly by activating intracellular MAPK signal pathway, which should be considered as contribution to atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability.