Increased tissue transglutaminase expression in human atherosclerotic coronary arteries.

Background And Objective: Transglutaminase 2 (TGase 2) is a calcium-dependent cross-linking enzyme that catalyzes a covalent iso-peptide bond between two proteins. Interestingly, this catalysis can activate the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) through the polymerization of the inhibitory protein of NF-kappaB (I-kappaB). The objective of the present study was to investigate the expression of TGase 2 in the human atherosclerotic human coronary artery, and the possible roles of TGase 2 in NF-kappaB activation.