The expression of the BRM and MMP2 genes in thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection

Y.-H. Li, X.-M. Li, M.-S. Lu, M.-F. Lv, X. Jin

Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China. Jinxing_888@163.com

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• Cardiology

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression, roles, and clinical significance of Brahma (BRM) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) in the thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection.

PATIENTS ND METHODS: Arterial specimens from 20 cases of thoracic aortic dissection and 38 cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm, as well as normal tissue were collected, paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and stained with anti-BRM and MMP2 monoclonal antibodies. Sections were analyzed by immunofluorescence, and the distribution and expression of BRM and MMP2 in the aortic wall were determined. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of BRM and MMP2 mRNA in the thoracic aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic dissection, and normal tissues. The expression of MMP2 and BRM protein in these tissues was analyzed by Western blot. SPSS 17.0 statistical software was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: MMP2 and BRM (mRNA and protein) were expressed in arterial tissue from thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections. Immunofluorescence also showed that BRM and MMP2 were expressed in the thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection tissue. The expression was very high in thoracic aortic aneurysm tissue. The differences in expression of BRM and MMP2 in the different arterial tissues were statistically significant (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Expression of BRM and MMP2 in the thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection is very high, indicating that BRM and MMP2 may play important roles in the occurrence and development of thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection. They may represent potential targets for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection and provide a new basis for clinical diagnosis.

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