Increased apoptosis and decreased density of medial smooth muscle cells in human abdominal aortic aneurysms.
- Author:
Jian ZHANG
1
;
Jan SCHMIDT
;
Eduard RYSCHICH
;
Hardy SCHUMACHER
;
Jens R ALLENBERG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; pathology; Apoptosis; physiology; Cell Count; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; pathology
- From: Chinese Medical Journal 2003;116(10):1549-1552
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo determine the increase of apoptosis and the decrease of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) density in human abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).
METHODSIn situ terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was employed to detect apoptosis of SMCs in patients with AAA (n = 25) and normal abdominal aortae (n = 10). Positive cells were identified by specific cell marker in combination with immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile SMC counting was performed by anti-alpha-actin immunohistostaining to compare the SMC density.
RESULTSTUNEL staining revealed that there was significantly increased apoptosis in AAAs (average 8.6%) compared with normal abdominal aortae (average 0.95%, P < 0.01). Double staining showed that most of these cells were SMCs. Counting of alpha-actin positive SMCs revealed that medial SMC density of AAAs (37.5 +/- 7.6 SMCs/HPF) was reduced by 79.1% in comparison with that of normal abdominal aortae (179.2 +/- 16.1 SMCs/HPF, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONSSignificantly increased SMCs of AAA bear apoptotic markers initiating cell death. Elevated apoptosis may result in a decreased density of SMCs in AAA, which may profoundly influence the development of AAA.
