Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS) in Human Coronary Artery Disease: Correlation with Vascular Remodeling

Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS) in Human Coronary Artery Disease: Correlation with Vascular Remodeling

• Autor
• William Bruno Alves da Silva
• Co-autores
• Ildernandes Vieira-Alves , Weslley Fernandes-Braga , Edenil Costa Aguilar , Bruno Almeida Rezende , Claudio Léo Gelape , Steyner de França Cortês , Virginia Soares Lemos
• Resumo

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  Vascular remodeling participates in the development and progression of cardiovascular disorders, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and aneurysm. The neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) has been proposed as an antiatherogenic factor in animal models. Moreover, nNOS-knockdown and selective nNOS blockade increased vascular remodeling in mice. Whether nNOS plays a role in human vascular remodeling, remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the expression of nNOS in human atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and its correlation with the progression of vascular remodeling. The right coronary artery (RCA) was collected from hearts taken from 23 patients (16 men and 7 women; aged 49 ± 10 years) undergoing heart transplantation. The samples were processed for histology and immunostaining, and divided into two groups: samples with ?40% remodeling (G1) and >40% remodeling (G2). All the experimental procedures were approved by the UFMG Research Ethics Committee - COEP (CAAE 82255517.4.0000.5149). Statistical analysis was made by Mann-Whitney, t test, and Spearman correlation test. The expression of nNOS was greater in the G2 compared to G1 in the intimal (0.053 ± 0.023 vs 0.472 ± 0.1227, p=0.0133) and media layers (0.1638 ± 0.06035 vs. 0.8458 ± 0.2552, p=0.0465). A positive correlation was observed between the percentage of vascular remodeling and total nNOS expression, and between percentage of vascular remodeling and nNOS in the intima layer (p = 0.032; r = 0.7 and p = 0.00003; r = 0.86, respectively). In conclusion, our results show a positive correlation of nNOS and the progression of human vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis. However, further studies are needed to assess the role of nNOS in vascular remodeling in human coronary arteries.

• Palavras-chave
• neuronal nitric oxide synthase, vascular remodeling, human coronary artery
• Modalidade
• Pôster
• Área Temática
• Inflamação e doenças vasculares