Premium
Smooth Muscle Cells of Fatal Coronary Artery Lesions Exhibit a Myofibroblastic Phenotype
Author(s) -
Hao H,
Gabbiani G,
Camenzind E,
Virmani R,
BochatonPiallat ML
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/j.1067-1927.2005.130117d.x
Subject(s) - myofibroblast , restenosis , immunohistochemistry , pathology , phenotype , sma* , medicine , myosin , smooth muscle , actin , staining , artery , cytoskeleton , biology , stent , cell , cardiology , fibrosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , genetics , mathematics , combinatorics , gene
Objectives: Characterize the phenotypic features of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of erosions, stable plaques and in stent restenosis causing sudden death, in order to verify the possibility that they have modulated into myofibroblasts. Methods and Results: Expression of α‐SM actin (α‐SMA), SM myosin heavy chains (SMMHCs) and smoothelin was investigated by immunohistochemistry followed by morphometrical quantification in the media and intima of coronary lesions. The expression of all cytoskeletal proteins was lower in the media of restenotic lesions and, to a lesser extent, of stable plaques compared to that of erosions demonstrating a significant medial atrophy in the two first conditions. An important expression of α‐SMA was detected in the intima of the different lesions; moreover, the area of α‐SMA staining was significantly larger in erosions and restenotic lesions compared to stable plaques. In the same location a striking decrease of SMMHCs and a disappearance of smoothelin was observed in all situations. Conclusions: Intimal SMCs of erosions and restenotic lesions as well as, to a lesser extent, of stable plaques, exhibit a phenotypic profile suggesting that they have modulated into myofibroblasts. The high accumulation of α‐SMA‐positive cells in erosions correlates with the higher appearance of thrombotic complications in this situation compared to the two other situations. (Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation grant No 32‐068034.02.)