Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Keywords

atherosclerosis, DNA damage, mitochondria, calpains, oxidative stress, fibroatheroma

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.006775

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerosis progression during aging culminates in the development of vulnerable plaques, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Increased generation and/or decreased scavenging of reactive oxygen species in the vascular wall are major contributors to atherogenesis. We previously showed that superoxide dismutase 2 deficiency increased vascular oxidative stress and reduced aortic compliance in aged wild‐type mice and that young Apoe−/−/Sod2+/− had increased mitochondrial DNA damage and atherosclerosis versus young Apoe−/− mice. Here we investigated the effects of superoxide dismutase 2 deficiency on atherosclerosis progression and plaque morphology in middle‐aged Apoe−/− mice.

Methods and Results: Compared with Apoe−/−, middle‐aged Apoe−/−/Sod2+/− mice had increased vascular wall reactive oxygen species (P

Conclusions: Enhanced mitochondrial oxidative stress under hyperlipidemic conditions in aging induces plaque instability, in part by increasing smooth muscle cell apoptosis, necrotic core expansion, and matrix degradation. Targeting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species or its effectors may be a viable therapeutic strategy to prevent aging‐associated and oxidative stress–related atherosclerosis complications.

Rights Information

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of the American Heart Association, v. 6, issue 11, art. e006775

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