Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 gene methylation is associated with low expression in carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: The tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) is a Kunitz-type serine-protease inhibitor which is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. Epigenetic regulation of the TFPI-2 gene, through methylation of CpG islands, has been advocated in cancer. We hypothesized that TFPI-2 gene methylation could regulate TFPI-2 expression in atherosclerosis.

Methods: We used Methylation Specific PCR (MSP) and pyrosequencing in order to identify 18 CpG of the TFPI-2 promoter, in 59 carotid atherosclerotic plaques and 26 control mammary arteries.

Results: MSP showed methylation of the TFPI-2 gene (MSP+) in 16 plaques (27%), while no methylation (MSP-) was found in control arteries. Pyrosequencing confirmed that MSP+ plaques presented higher methylation levels than MSP- ones and arteries (p=0.03 and 0.01). Moreover, the TFPI-2 mRNA levels were lower in methylated plaques than in unmethylated ones and than in arteries (p=0.04 and <0.0001). The methylated plaques contained less lipids and macrophage infiltration than unmethylated ones. Their TFPI-2 immunoreactivity was mainly detected in the macrophages located in the media on the adventitial side, rather than in the lipid-rich core.

Conclusion: Methylation of the TFPI-2 gene takes place in atherosclerotic plaques and is associated with decreased TFPI-2 expression. The place of this process in atherosclerosis progression remains to be investigated.