| abstract |
Compositions and methods for detecting tissue specificity for expression of perilipin, Hormone Sensitive Lipase (HSL) and Adipocyte Differentiation Related Protein (ADRP) mRNA and polypeptide are provided, and show that perilipin mRNA is located in plaques containing a thrombus, and perilipin polypeptide is found in foam cells of intimal xanthomas, in the shoulder area of stable lesions, and near the site of cap rupture in lesions containing a thrombus. HSL expression increases during plaque progression, and co-localizes to the same sites as perilipin. ADRP is expressed in all stages of human atherosclerosis, and is most important during the initial phases of lipid uptake. Perilipin expression increases in more lipid-laden macrophage derived foam cells, and replaces ADRP on the surface of the lipid droplet, thereby regulating accessibility to the lipolytic enzyme HSL. Perilipin and HSL are markers for progression of atherosclerosis associated with ruptured plaque. |