Expression of c-myc and H-ras and Absence of Expression of p53 and bcl-2 Genes in Atherosclerotic Human Carotid Arteries

Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology 2002; 5 (3): 253-256

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Keywords: Apoptose,  Atherosklerose,  bcl-2,  c-myc,  Genetik,  H-ras,  Hypertonie,  Kardiologie,  p53,  apoptosis,  atherosclerosis,  bcl-2,  c-myc,  H-ras,  hypertension,  p53

Increased gene expression has been found in both animal and human atherosclerotic lesions, mediating cell turnover and lesion development. We investigated the role of p53, bcl-2, c-myc and H-ras genes in atherosclerotic lesions. We examined immunohistochemically the carotid arteries of 86 patients who underwent atherectomy for primary atherosclerosis and 20 normal carotid arteries. C-myc over-expression was seen in 13 (15.1 %) cases and H-ras in 21 (24.4 %) cases of the 86 specimens, while no expression of either gene was found in the normal specimens. P53 and bcl-2 genes were not expressed in either the atherosclerotic or the normal specimens. Six out of 7 patients that co-expressed the c-myc and H-ras genes in their lesions were hypertensive (> 160/95) (p = 0.04). No significant correlation was found between the gene expression and the risk factors or the presence of clinical symptoms. Although, c-myc and H-ras are not independently correlated to one of the risk factors of atherogenesis, their co-expression is significantly increased in hypertensive patients. P53 and bcl-2 were not expressed in either the study or the control group, however, their absence of expression may be important in atherogenesis.