Objective: To further understanding the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis, we studied the mutations of p53 anti-oncogene in Chinese atherosclerosis lesions and the relations between p53 gene mutations with the levels of serum lipoprotein and the contents of lipids in AS tissues.
Methods: p53 gene mutations were detected by a-32P-dCTP labelled radiative PCR-SSCP and the biochemical analyses of lipids in serum and AS tissues.
Results: In 89 cases studied, 9 were found the p53 gene multi-hotsports exons mutations. The TC, TG and CE contents in vascular AS tissues in p53 gene mutation group were higher than those in non-mutations group (ANOV: F = 4.56-9.97, P < 0.05-0.01, no differences in PL contents). But there were no statistic differences in serum levels of TC, TG, CE and apoAI between the two groups (P > 0.05-0.25). All the levels of the serum lipoproteins studied were almost in normal ranges.
Conclusion: The DNA structural mutations of p53 anti-oncogene in Chinese adults' AS tissues have remarkable relations with the severity of AS lesions. The mutations of p53 gene may play some important roles in the formation of human atherosclerosis. In addition to serum lipid disorders, this may be a new mechanism in the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis.