Increased expression of urokinase during atherosclerotic lesion development causes arterial constriction and lumen loss, and accelerates lesion growth.

ABSTRACT: Overexpression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in endothelial cells can decrease intravascular thrombosis. However, expression of uPA is increased in atherosclerotic human arteries, which suggests that uPA might accelerate atherogenesis. To investigate whether elevated uPA expression accelerates atherogenesis, we cloned a rabbit uPA cDNA and expressed it in carotid arteries of cholesterol-fed rabbits. uPA gene transfer increased artery-wall uPA activity for at least 1 week, with a return to baseline by 2 weeks. One week after gene transfer, uPA-transduced arteries were constricted, with significantly smaller lumens and thicker walls, but no difference in intimal or medial mass. Two weeks after gene transfer, uPA- and control-transduced arteries were morphologically indistinguishab

SUBMITTER: Falkenberg M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC125007 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature