Reverse Regulatory Pathway (H2S / PGE2 / MMP) in Human Aortic Aneurysm and Saphenous Vein Varicosity

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 30;11(6):e0158421. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158421. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a mediator with demonstrated protective effects for the cardiovascular system. On the other hand, prostaglandin (PG)E2 is involved in vascular wall remodeling by regulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities. We tested the hypothesis that endogenous H2S may modulate PGE2, MMP-1 activity and endogenous tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP-1/-2). This regulatory pathway could be involved in thinning of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and thickening of saphenous vein (SV) varicosities. The expression of the enzyme responsible for H2S synthesis, cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and its activity, were significantly higher in varicose vein as compared to SV. On the contrary, the endogenous H2S level and CSE expression were lower in AAA as compared to healthy aorta (HA). Endogenous H2S was responsible for inhibition of PGE2 synthesis mostly in varicose veins and HA. A similar effect was observed with exogenous H2S and consequently decreasing active MMP-1/TIMP ratios in SV and varicose veins. In contrast, in AAA, higher levels of PGE2 and active MMP-1/TIMP ratios were found versus HA. These findings suggest that differences in H2S content in AAA and varicose veins modulate endogenous PGE2 production and consequently the MMP/TIMP ratio. This mechanism may be crucial in vascular wall remodeling observed in different vascular pathologies (aneurysm, varicosities, atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension).

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aortic Aneurysm / metabolism*
  • Aortic Aneurysm / pathology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / metabolism*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metalloproteases / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Saphenous Vein / metabolism*
  • Saphenous Vein / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Sulfites / metabolism*
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / metabolism
  • Varicose Veins / metabolism*
  • Varicose Veins / pathology

Substances

  • Sulfites
  • TIMP1 protein, human
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1
  • Metalloproteases
  • Dinoprostone
  • hydrogen sulfite

Grants and funding

This work was supported by INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale). Gulsev Ozen is a recipient of a postgraduate fellowship (BIDEB-2214) from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). Ingrid Gomez was supported by a PhD grant from Paris 13 University. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.