The NF-κB signal transduction pathway in aortic endothelial cells is primed for activation in regions predisposed to atherosclerotic lesion formation

Atherosclerotic lesions form at distinct sites in the arterial tree, suggesting that hemodynamic forces influence the initiation of atherogenesis. If NF-kappa B plays a role in atherogenesis, then the activation of this signal transduction pathway in arterial endothelium should show topographic variation. The expression of NF-kappa B/I kappa B components and NF-kappa B activation was evaluated by specific antibody staining, en face confocal microscopy, and image analysis of endothelium in regions of mouse proximal aorta with high and low probability (HP and LP) for atherosclerotic lesion development. In control C57BL/6 mice, expression levels of p65, I kappa B alpha, and I kappa B beta were 5- to 18-fold higher in the HP region, yet NF-kappa B was activated in a minority of endothelial cells. This suggested that NF-kappa B signal transduction was primed for activation in HP regions on encountering an activation stimulus. Lipopolysaccharide treatment or feeding low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice an atherogenic diet resulted in NF-kappa B activation and up-regulated expression of NF-kappa B-inducible genes predominantly in HP region endothelium. Preferential regional activation of endothelial NF-kappa B by systemic stimuli, including hypercholesterolemia, may contribute to the localization of atherosclerotic lesions at sites with high steady-state expression levels of NF-kappa B/I kappa B components.