DIETARY-INDUCED ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS HAVE INCREASED LEVELS OF ACIDIC FGF MESSENGER-RNA AND ALTERED CYTOSKELETAL AND EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIXMESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION

Growth factor and extracellular matrix gene expression by vessel wall cells influence the development of arterial lesions. In this study, we compared the level of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA expression in aortic vessels from normal swine and from swine with die tary-induced vascular lesions. There was a striking increase in the le vel of acidic fibroblast growth factor mRNA within the lesions while t he level of basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA decreased. Swine fed a n atherosclerotic diet supplemented with L-arginine developed atherosc lerotic plaques that also contained increased levels of acidic fibrobl ast growth factor mRNA. We also examined the expression level of a num ber of extracellular matrix and cytoskeletal mRNAs to compare the bios ynthetic state of normal arteries and atherosclerotic plaques. Compare d with the normal artery, the level of alpha-smooth muscle actin mRNA decreased, and there was a concomitant increase in vimentin, fibronect in and thrombospondin mRNA levels. Surprisingly, alpha1(I), alpha2(I) and alpha1(III) collagen mRNA levels were decreased in the atheroscler otic lesions when compared with the normal artery. These results indic ate that vascular lesion formation in hypercholesterolemic swine is ac companied by alterations in growth factor.