P115	A genome-wide transcriptomics analysis of endothelial cells treated with cigarette smoke extract.
B.Henderson, D.Bernhard, M.Kind, G.Wick
Biocenter, Division of Experimental Pathophysiology and Immunology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, AT.

Cigarette smoking has been predicted by the World Health Organisation to become the worlds number one health problem before 2020. Smokers are at greater risk for a number of diseases, including atherosclerosis, the major cause of death in the Western world. In spite of this, research is only beginning to reveal the molecular role of smoking in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. To investigate the cellular response to cigarette smoke we have treated HUVEC with a standardised aqueous smoke extract, and followed the changes in gene expression for up to 24 hours using DNA microarray technology. A number of genes related to vascular function and cardiovascular disease have been found to be effected. This includes endothelin-1, matrix metalloproteinases, interleukin 8, and heat shock proteins. Furthermore, detoxification processes are induced in the cells, seen by the upregulation of genes such as heme oxygenase-1, ferritin, superoxide dismutase-1 and ubiquitin. The concomitant increase in activity of the transcription factors NFκβ and Heat Shock Factor-1 provides the basis for the induction of many of these genes.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel. Any further use of this abstract requires written permission from the publisher.