The overall goals of this project are: 1) to investigate the role of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and determination of elements which regulate its expression in macrophages and 2) to prepare the candidate for a productive career in cardiovascular research by providing him with appropriate training, environment and support. In the first phase of the project, the candidate will examine LPL expression in atherosclerotic lesions by using LPL-specific immunocytochemistry with an antibody and riboprobe which have been developed by the candidate while working in the laboratory of the Primary Sponsor, Dr. Alan Chait. The candidate has demonstrated that LPL mRNA is produced by macrophage-derived foam cells in advanced human coronary atherosclerotic plaques. The antibody and riboprobe for LPL will be used in a well-defined animal model of atherogenesis to examine LPL expression by specific cell types at all stages of lesion development. The expression of apolipoprotein E and of specific cytokines will also be examined to determine their topological correlation with LPL expression. The results of these experiments will be used to design studies planned for the second phase of the project. In the second phase of the project, the candidate will move to the laboratory of the Secondary Sponsor, Dr. Deeb, to work with Dr. Deeb on his already funded project to identify cis-acting elements of the LPL gene responsible for tissue-specific expression. In vitro experiments will be performed to identify potential regulatory sequences of the LPL gene by virtue of their ability to bind to specific transcription factors, as revealed by nuclease hypersensitivity, genomic footprinting and gel mobility retardation assays. In vivo experiments will also be performed in which DNA constructs will be used to investigate regulatory sequences responsible for cell-specific and developmental stage-dependent expression of LPL in transgenic mice. This approach will allow for rapid assessment of expression by using lac Z as a reporter gene, and provide an in vivo system to verify the findings of the planned in vitro experiments. These projects will provide the candidate with experience in advanced molecular biology techniques which will be invaluable for his research career.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08HL002788-02
Application #
2210567
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CCT-M (F1))
Project Start
1993-07-01
Project End
1998-06-30
Budget Start
1994-07-01
Budget End
1995-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
135646524
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
O'Brien, Kevin D; McDonald, Thomas O; Kunjathoor, Vidya et al. (2005) Serum amyloid A and lipoprotein retention in murine models of atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 25:785-90
O'Brien, Kevin D; Lewis, Katherine; Fischer, Jens W et al. (2004) Smooth muscle cell biglycan overexpression results in increased lipoprotein retention on extracellular matrix: implications for the retention of lipoproteins in atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis 177:29-35
Kunjathoor, Vidya V; Chiu, Diane S; O'Brien, Kevin D et al. (2002) Accumulation of biglycan and perlecan, but not versican, in lesions of murine models of atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 22:462-8
Yuan, C; Hatsukami, T S; Obrien, K D (2001) High-Resolution magnetic resonance imaging of normal and atherosclerotic human coronary arteries ex vivo: discrimination of plaque tissue components. J Investig Med 49:491-9
Knopp, E A; Arndt, T L; Eng, K L et al. (1999) Murine phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase: cDNA sequence, tissue expression, and mapping. Mamm Genome 10:601-5
O'Brien, K D; Pineda, C; Chiu, W S et al. (1999) Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D is expressed by macrophages in human atherosclerosis and colocalizes with oxidation epitopes. Circulation 99:2876-82
Lauro, K L; Kabert, H; LaManna, J C (1999) Methyl isobutyl amiloride alters regional brain reperfusion after resuscitation from cardiac arrest in rats. Brain Res 831:64-71
O'Brien, K D; Olin, K L; Alpers, C E et al. (1998) Comparison of apolipoprotein and proteoglycan deposits in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques: colocalization of biglycan with apolipoproteins. Circulation 98:519-27
Chiu, D S; Oram, J F; LeBoeuf, R C et al. (1997) High-density lipoprotein-binding protein (HBP)/vigilin is expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions and colocalizes with apolipoprotein E. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 17:2350-8
Lauro, K L; LaManna, J C (1997) Adequacy of cerebral vascular remodeling following three weeks of hypobaric hypoxia. Examined by an integrated composite analytical model. Adv Exp Med Biol 411:369-76

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