USF1 (upstream stimulatory factor 1) is a transcription factor associated with familial combined hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease in humans. However, whether USF1 is beneficial or detrimental to cardiometabolic health has not been addressed. By inactivating USF1 in mice, we demonstrate protection against diet-induced dyslipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and atherosclerosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Chronic infections have been demonstrated to maintain low-grade systemic inflammation and associate with atherosclerosis. We studied the inflammation- and lipid homeostasis-related effects of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infections on the epididymal and inguinal adipose tissue (AT) transcriptomes and fatty acid distribution in apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient mice. Chow-fed apoE-deficient mice were exposed to 1) chronic intranasal infection with C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssessing chemicals for acute oral toxicity is a standard information requirement of regulatory testing. However, animal testing is now prohibited in the cosmetics sector in Europe, and strongly discouraged for industrial chemicals. Building on the results of a previous international validation study, a follow up study was organised to assess if the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake cytotoxicity assay could identify substances not requiring classification as acute oral toxicants under the EU regulations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Extracellular matrix-degrading proteinases are upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions and can contribute to subsequent pathological events. In the present nested case-control study, we investigated the association of serum concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-13, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and neutrophil elastase (NE) with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) events.
Design: The FINRISK97 cohort included 8090 persons with no history of CVD.
Background: Pathogens such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) associate with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases by inducing inflammation. We hypothesized that the pathogens affect the vascular wall by disturbing cholesterol homeostasis and endothelial function.
Methods: Aa- and Cpn-infections were induced in apoE-deficient mice by intravenous and intranasal applications, respectively.
Neutrophil collagenase or collagenase-2 (matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-8) belongs to the collagenase subgroup of the MMP superfamily of calcium- and zinc-dependent neutral proteinases. MMP-8 is catalytically the most competent proteinase to initiate type I collagen and extracellular matrix degradation associated with periodontal and peri-implant tissue destruction leading to tooth and dental implant loss. Regarding cardiovascular diseases, pathologically excessive MMP-8 has been implicated in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and rupture probably through its proteolytic ability to thin the protecting collagenous fibrous cap lining coronary and other arteries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activities are associated with the progression of kidney disease in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Research Design And Methods: For this prospective study, we chose 477 Finnish patients with type 1 diabetes, who were followed for 6 years. At the baseline visit, 239 patients had a normal albumin excretion rate (normoalbuminuria) and 238 patients had macroalbuminuria.
Periodontitis and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection are independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of C. pneumoniae and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans infection on hepatic inflammation and lipid homeostasis of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeriodontitis is a bacterium-induced chronic inflammation that destroys tissues that attach teeth to jaw bone. Pathologically excessive matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) is among the key players in periodontal destruction by initiating type I collagen degradation. We studied MMP-8 in Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontitis by using MMP-8-deficient (MMP8(-/-)) and wild-type (WT) mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Periodontitis patients are known to suffer from endotoxemia, which may be among the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. In health, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is mainly carried with high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Shift of LPS toward lipoproteins with lower densities may result in less effective endotoxin scavenging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA broad variety of microbes are present in atherosclerotic plaques and chronic bacterial infection increases the risk of atherosclerosis by mechanisms that have remained vague. One possible mechanism is that bacteria or bacterial products activate plaque mast cells that are known to participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Here, we show by real-time PCR analysis and ELISA that Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) and a periodontal pathogen, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), both induce a time and concentration-dependent expression and secretion of interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) by cultured human peripheral blood-derived mast cells, but not anti-inflammatory molecules, such as IL-10 or transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
December 2007
Objective: In culture studies matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 thins the protecting fibrous cap of the atherosclerotic plaque thereby increasing its vulnerability. Results on the association of serum MMP-8 concentrations and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are, however, scarce and contradictory.
Methods And Results: We analyzed the association between CVD or subclinical atherosclerosis and serum MMP-8 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) concentrations of 1018 men with the follow-up time of 10 years.
Periodontitis increases the atherosclerosis risk, but information on the role of periodontal pathogens in atherogenesis is limited. In the present study we have investigated, whether the major periodontal pathogen, Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans, induces development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. The mice received 4, 6, or 8 weekly i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn association between cardiovascular and periodontal disease may be due to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-promoted release of inflammatory mediators, adverse alterations of the lipoprotein profile, and an imbalance in cholesterol homeostasis. Since periodontopathogenic potential differs between serotypes of a major periodontal pathogen, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, we studied the pro-atherogenic properties of LPS preparations from serotypes b and d strains on macrophages (RAW 264.7).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF