A Selective Matrix Metalloproteinase-12 Inhibitor Retards Atherosclerotic Plaque Development in Apolipoprotein E-Knockout Mice

作者：Johnson Jason L^*; Devel Laurent; Czarny Bertrand; George Sarah J; Jackson Christopher L; Rogakos Vassilis; Beau Fabrice; Yiotakis Athanasios; Newby Andrew C; Dive Vincent

来源：Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2011, 31(3): 528-U127.

DOI：10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.219147

• apoptosis
• atherosclerosis
• macrophages
• metalloproteinases
• pharmacology

Objective-Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 has been implicated in plaque progression and instability and is also amenable to selective inhibition. In this study, we investigated the influence of a greater than 10-fold selective synthetic MMP-12 inhibitor on plaque progression in the apolipoprotein E knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis.
Methods and Results-A phosphinic peptide (RXP470.1) that is a potent, selective murine MMP-12 inhibitor significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque cross-sectional area by approximately 50% at 4 different vascular sites in male and female apolipoprotein E knockout mice fed a Western diet. Furthermore, RXP470.1 treatment resulted in less complex plaques with increased smooth muscle cell: macrophage ratio, less macrophage apoptosis, increased cap thickness, smaller necrotic cores, and decreased incidence of calcification. Additional in vitro and in vivo findings indicate that attenuated monocyte/macrophage invasion and reduced macrophage apoptosis probably underlie the beneficial effects observed on atherosclerotic plaque progression with MMP-12 inhibitor treatment.
Conclusion-Our data demonstrate that a selective MMP-12 inhibitor retards atherosclerosis development and results in a more fibrous plaque phenotype in mice. Our study provides proof of principle to motivate translational work on MMP-12 inhibitor therapy in humans. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011;31:528-535.)

• 出版日期2011-3