Imbalanced synthesis of cyclooxygenase-derived thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin compromises vasomotor function of the thoracic aorta in Marfan syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thoracic aortic dissection is a life-threatening complication of Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding fibrillin-1. We have demonstrated that nitric oxide-mediated endothelial-dependent relaxation is impaired in the thoracic aorta in Marfan syndrome. In the present study, we determined whether the cyclooxygenase (COX)-pathway is involved in the compromised aortic vasomotor function.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Thoracic aortae from mice at 3, 6 and 9 months of age, heterozygous for the Fbn1 allele encoding a cysteine substitution (Fbn1 (C1039G/+), 'Marfan', n=35), were compared with those from age-matched controls (n=35).

KEY RESULTS: Isometric force measurement revealed that preincubation with indomethacin, a non-specific COX inhibitor, but not valeryl salicylate, a specific COX-1 inhibitor, improved the phenylephrine-induced contractions (at 6 months, EC(50) and E(max) were increased 4.5-fold and by 45%, respectively) in Marfan aortae. Sensitivity to acetylcholine-induced relaxation was improved 10-fold. Blockade of the thromboxane-endoperoxide receptor by SQ-29548 did not affect phenylephrine-mediated contractions in Marfan aortae, although they did respond to the thromboxane analogue, U46619. From 6 months on, phenylephrine-induced secretion of prostacyclin and thromboxane A(2) in Marfan aortae was 200% and 40%, respectively, of those in controls. Reduced COX-1 expression was detected in Marfan aortae at 3 and 9 months, whilst COX-2 expression was increased from 3 months on.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The compromised vasomotor function in Marfan thoracic aortae is associated with an imbalanced synthesis of thromboxane A(2) and prostacyclin resulting from the differential protein expression of COX-1 and COX-2.