Critical Role of Bone Marrow Apoptosis-Associated Speck-Like Protein, an Inflammasome Adaptor Molecule, in Neointimal Formation After Vascular Injury in Mice

• DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.107.746453
• Publication Date: 2008-06-10T00:54:36Z
• Authors: Noriyuki Yajima; Masafumi Takahashi; Hajime Morimoto; Yuji Shiba; Yasuko Takahashi; Junya Masumoto; Hirohiko Ise; Junji Sagara; Jun Nakayama; Shun'ichiro Tanig...; Uichi Ikeda
• Keywords: Neointima

Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-18 play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis restenosis. Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) is adaptor that regulates caspase-1-dependent IL-1 generation; however, ASC vascular injury remains undefined. Here, we investigated contribution to neointimal formation after ASC-deficient (ASC(-/-)) mice.Wire-mediated was produced femoral artery ASC(-/-) wild-type mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed markedly expressed at site injury. Neointimal significantly attenuated mice were lesion but showed decreased expression To investigate bone marrow-derived cells, developed marrow-transplanted found which marrow replaced with cells. Furthermore, vitro experiments proliferation activity smooth muscle cells not impaired.These findings suggest critical for identify novel therapeutic target