Abdominal aortic aneurysm is associated with high serum levels of tenascin-X and decreased aneurysmal tissue tenascin-X

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 113; no. 13; pp. 1702 - 1707
• Main Authors: ZWEERS, Manon C, PEETERS, Anita C. T. M, GRAAFSMA, Sietze, KRANENDONK, Steef, VAN DER VLIET, J. Adam, DEN HEIJER, Martin, SCHALKWIJK, Joost
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 04-04-2006
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aorta - metabolism; Aorta, Abdominal - metabolism; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - blood; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular system; Case-Control Studies; Diseases of the aorta; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Osmolar Concentration; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Tenascin - blood; Tenascin - metabolism; Tissue Distribution; Tenascin; aneurysm; Anatomic pathology; risk factors; pathology; Collagen; Glycoprotein; Risk factor; Cardiovascular disease; Extracellular matrix; Aortic aneurysm
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.513820

Tenascin-X is a large extracellular matrix protein that is abundantly expressed in several connective tissues. A 140-kDa C-terminal fragment of tenascin-X is present in human serum. Complete deficiency of tenascin-X is associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and these patients show major connective tissue alterations in their skin, as well as blood vessel fragility. In this study, we investigated whether tenascin-X is present in normal human aorta and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) tissues and whether an association exists between serum tenascin-X levels and AAA.
Five normal aortas and 5 AAA tissues were immunostained for tenascin-X and elastin. Tenascin-X was present throughout the entire aorta and was especially abundant near the elastic lamellae, whereas tenascin-X expression was strongly decreased in AAA tissue. Measurement of tenascin-X serum concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 87 AAA patients and 86 controls demonstrated an increasing risk for AAA with increasing tenascin-X serum concentrations. After adjustment for established risk factors, tenascin-X serum concentrations in the highest quartile were associated with a 5-fold increase in risk of AAA (odds ratio, 5.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 13.8).
Tenascin-X expression is markedly decreased in AAA tissue, and AAA is associated with high serum concentrations of tenascin-X.