Age-related effects on atherogenesis and scavenger enzymes of intracranialand extracranial arteries in men without classic risk factors for atherosclerosis

Background and Purpose-Atherosclerosis occurs later and is less extensive i n intracranial arteries than in extracranial arteries. However, the mechani sms responsible are poorly understood. A previous study has suggested a bet ter antioxidant protection of intracranial arteries. Methods-To assess the influence of age on arterial activity of antioxidant enzymes and atherogenesis, we compared intracranial and extracranial arteri es of humans of different ages who retrospectively lacked confounding class ic risk factors (48 premature fetuses aged 6.4 +/-0.8 months [mean +/- SD], 58 children aged 7.9 +/-3.8 years, 42 adults aged 42.5 +/-5.1 years, and 4 0 elderly subjects aged 71.8 +/-3.4 years, all males). Lesions were quantif ied by computer-assisted imaging analysis of sections of the middle cerebra l and basilar arteries, the left anterior descending coronary artery, the c ommon carotid artery, and the abdominal aorta. Macrophages, apolipoprotein B, oxidized LDL, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in lesions were determined by immunocytochemistry. The effect of aging on atherogenesis was then compa red with that on the activity of 4 antioxidant enzymes in the arterial wall . Results-Atherosclerosis was 6- to 19-fold greater (P <0.01) in extracranial arteries than in intracranial arteries, and it increased linearly with age . Intracranial arteries showed significantly greater antioxidant enzyme act ivities than did extracranial arteries. However, the antioxidant protection of intracranial arteries decreased significantly in older age, coinciding with a marked acceleration of atherogenesis. An increase in matrix metallop roteinase-9 protein expression and in gelatinolytic activity consistent wit h the degree of intracranial atherosclerosis was also observed. Conclusions-These results suggest that a greater activity of antioxidant en zymes in intracranial arteries may contribute to their greater resistance t o atherogenesis and that with increasing age intracranial arteries respond with accelerated atherogenesis when their antioxidant protection decreases relatively more than that of extracranial arteries.