Expression and significance of transcription factor activator protein-1 in Buerger’s disease

Abstract:

Objective：To investigate expression of transcription factor activator protein-1（AP-1） in lumbar sympathetic ganglion neurons of patients with Buerger’s disease. Methods：Specimens of lumbar sympathetic ganglion of male patients with Buerger’s disease between January 2011 and March 2012 were collected and divided into two groups：Buerger’s disease group（n=23） and normal control group（n=12）. Immunohistochemistry，reverse transcription quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect and compare expression of AP-1 in lumbar sympathetic neurons of patients with and without Buerger’s disease. Results：AP-1 gene（P=0.045 9） and protein（P=0.028 3） expression in lumbar sympathetic ganglion neurons of patients with thromboangiitis obliterans were higher than those of normal people. Conclusions：AP-1 plays a role in the regulation of cell proliferation and vascular inflammation response in Buerger’s disease.