APOPTOTIC CASCADE IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS

描述（改编自研究者摘要）：细胞凋亡发生在 先进的人类和实验动脉粥样硬化，但鲜为人知的是， 细胞凋亡在确定动脉细胞构成中的作用 早期动脉粥样硬化病变或脂肪条纹。 本申请提出 细胞凋亡代表了内膜中细胞消失的机制， 并且血管细胞在暴露于细胞因子后经历凋亡 由T细胞和巨噬细胞产生，它们也存在于病变中。 进一步提出这是由Fas死亡信号介导的。 蛋白酶家族和ICE蛋白酶家族。 具体目标1将审查 动脉样本中细胞凋亡和细胞增殖之间的平衡 通过免疫组织化学在PDAY程序中收集。 具体目标2将 检测Fas、Fas配体和ICE相关蛋白酶在平滑肌细胞中的表达， 在动脉粥样硬化病变和培养的 细胞 具体目标3将检查肌动蛋白片段的功能， 凝溶胶蛋白介导细胞凋亡。 来自表达缺陷小鼠的动脉 检测功能性Fas（MRC/lpr/lpr）或凝溶胶蛋白。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from Investigator's Abstract): Apoptosis occurs in advanced human and experimental atherosclerosis, but little is known about the role of apoptosis in determination of the cellularity of arteries with early atherosclerotic lesion or fatty streaks. This application proposes that apoptosis represents a mechanism for eliminating cells from the intima, and that vascular cells undergo apoptosis following exposure to cytokines produced by T cells and macrophages which are also present in the lesion. It is further proposed that this is mediated by the Fas death signaling pathway and the ICE protease family. Specific Aim 1 will examine the balance between apoptosis and cell proliferation in arterial samples collected in the PDAY program by immunohistochemistry. Specific Aim 2 will examine expression of Fas, Fas ligand, and ICE-related proteases in smooth muscle cells undergoing apoptosis in atherosclerotic lesions and in cultured cells. Specific Aim 3 will examine the function of fragments of actin an gelsolin in mediating apoptosis. Arteries from mice deficient in expression of functional Fas (MRC/lpr/lpr) or gelsolin will be examined.