Roles of thromboxane A₂ and prostacyclin in the development of atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice

Production of thromboxane (TX) A₂ and PGI₂/ prostacyclin (PGI₂) is increased in patients with atherosclerosis. However, their roles in atherogenesis have not been critically defined. To examine this issue, we cross-bred atherosclerosis-prone apoE-deficient mice with mice deficient in either the TXA receptor (TP) or the PGI receptor (IP). Although they showed levels of serum cholesterol and triglyceride similar to those of apoE-deficient mice, apoE^-/-TP^-/- mice exhibited a significant delay in atherogenesis, and apoE^-/-IP^-/- mice exhibited a significant acceleration in atherogenesis compared with mice deficient in apoE alone. The plaques in apoE^-/-IP^-/- mice showed partial endothelial disruption and exhibited enhanced expression of ICAM-1 and decreased expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) in the overlying endothelial cells compared with those of apoE ^-/-TP^-/- mice. Platelet activation with thrombin ex vivo revealed higher and lower sensitivity for surface P-selectin expression in platelets of apoE^-/-IP^-/- and apoE^-/-TP ^-/- mice, respectively, than in those of apoE^-/- mice. Intravital microscopy of the common carotid artery revealed a significantly greater number of leukocytes rolling on the vessel walls in apoE ^-/-IP^-/- mice than in either apoE^-/-TP ^-/- or apoE^-/- mice. We conclude that TXA₂ promotes and PGI₂ prevents the initiation and progression of atherogenesis through control of platelet activation and leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction.