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Expression of angiogenesis and angiogenic factors in human aortic vascular disease
Masayoshi Kobayashi1, Junichi Matsubara, Masahiro Matsushita
1Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0265, Japan.
Insights
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density are significantly higher in inflammatory and atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysms compared to aortic occlusive disease, suggesting VEGF’s role in aortic wall degeneration.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Vascular Pathology
- Angiogenesis Research
Background:
- Investigates endothelial cell and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in aortic diseases.
- Examines atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAAA), inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA), and aortic occlusive disease (AOD).
- Aims to link neovascularization and angiogenic factor expression to aortic vascular disease pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the relationship between neovascularization, VEGF expression, and the pathogenesis of IAAA, AAAA, and AOD.
- To compare the levels of CD34-positive microvessels and VEGF-positive cells across different aortic disease types.
Main Methods:
- Pathological and immunohistochemical analysis of surgical aortic specimens (10 IAAA, 13 AAAA, 6 AOD).
- Staining with hematoxylin-eosin, elastica von Gieson, CD34, and VEGF antibody.
- Quantification of CD34-positive microvessels and VEGF-positive cells in aortic media and adventitia.
Main Results:
- Higher CD34-positive microvessel density observed in IAAA > AAAA > AOD (P < 0.0001).
- Widespread VEGF expression found in macrophages, monocytes, and smooth muscle cells in IAAA and AAAA, but minimal in AOD.
- VEGF-positive cell counts showed a trend of IAAA > AAAA > AOD (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- VEGF, a known regulator of angiogenesis and elastolytic proteinases, is implicated in aortic wall degeneration.
- The study suggests VEGF plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of IAAA, AAAA, and AOD.
- Differences in neovascularization and VEGF expression correlate with the specific aortic disease.
Background:
This paper presents an investigation into the expression of endothelial cells and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the aortic wall in vascular diseases such as atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAAA), inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA), and aortic occlusive disease (AOD) to determine whether the differences in both neovascularization and angiogenic factor expression are related to the pathogenesis of aortic vascular disease.
Materials And Methods:
Surgical specimens of aorta (10 IAAA, 13 AAAA, 6 AOD) were studied pathologically and immunohistochemically. Representative sections of aorta were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, elastica von Gieson, CD34, and VEGF antibody. CD34-positive microvessels and VEGF-positive cells in the media and adventitia were counted, respectively.
Results:
CD34-positive microvessels were detected in IAAA > AAAA > AOD (one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), P < 0.0001). VEGF expression was widely detected in macrophages, monocytes, and smooth muscle cells of IAAA and AAAA; however, it was hardly recognized in AOD. VEGF-positive cells were detected in IAAA > AAAA > AOD specimens (ANOVA, P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
VEGF is known to be a regulator of angiogenesis and to simultaneously stimulate elastolytic proteinases. The results of this study suggest that an angiogenic factor, such as VEGF, may play an important role in the degeneration of the aortic wall and could be strongly related to the pathogenesis of IAAA, AAAA, and AOD.