Objective—:Annexin A5 (AnxA5) has antithrombotic, antiapoptotic, and antiinflammatory properties; we investigated its effectiveness against vascular inflammation, remodeling, and dysfunction in accelerated atherosclerosis.
Methods and Results—:
AnxA5 (1 mg/kg per day or vehicle) was investigated in vascular injury models in hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E (ApoE)3*Leiden mice. AnxA5 treatment reduced adhesion and infiltration of leukocytes by 71% to 69% (
P
=0.015,
P
=0.031) and macrophages by 51% to 87% (
P
=0.014,
P
=0.018), as well as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α expression in a femoral artery inflammation model (perivascular cuff for 3 days), indicating reduced vascular inflammation. In a vein graft model, 28 days of AnxA5 treatment reduced vein graft thickening (48%;
P
=0.006) and leukocyte infiltration (46%;
P
=0.003). In these mice, reduced plasma concentrations of IFN-γ (−72%;
P
=0.040), granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (−41%;
P
=0.010), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β) (−66%;
P
=0.020) were measured, indicating reduced systemic inflammation. An in vitro endothelial cell model shows the importance of AnxA5's anticoagulant properties in reducing vascular inflammation. Endothelium-mediated dilatation in hypercholesterolemic ApoE
(−/−)
mice was improved by 3 days of AnxA5 treatment, shown by improved systolic and diastolic blood pressure reductions in response to metacholine, which could be abolished by
l
-Nitro-Arginine-Methyl Ester (
l
-NAME), indicating nitric oxide involvement.
Conclusion—:AnxA5 reduced local vascular and systemic inflammation and vascular remodeling and improved vascular function, indicating that it has a therapeutic potential against atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.