The metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress, and atherosclerosis.

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a common metabolic disorder that results from the increasing prevalence of obesity. The risk for developing coronary heart disease is directly related to the concomitant burden of obesity-related risk factors clustered in MS: dyslipidemia, hypertension, insulin resistance and diabetes which are associated with a high degree of inflammation and oxidative stress. To unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms, we have developed mouse models of MS. We investigate the role of the anti-oxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase in the vessel wall and the adipose tissues for the protection against oxicative stress. We perform microarray and quantitative RT-PCR analysis to identify clusters of genes of which the expression changes with that of superoxide dismutase. We are particularly interested in common genes in the arterial wall and adipose tissues that are related to monocyte infiltration and thereby to inflammation.

Keywords:RT-PCR, Microarray, Oxidative stress, Metabolic syndrome, Athorosclerosis, Obesity

Disciplines:Cardiac and vascular medicine