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Reduced thrombomodulin in human peripheral nerve microvasculature
Charlene E Hafer-Macko1, Frederick M Ivey, Kymberly A Gyure
1Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-1595, USA. cmacko@grecc.umaryland.edu
Muscle & Nerve
|September 5, 2002
Summary
Thrombomodulin (TM) is present in human nerve microvasculature but deficient near the blood-nerve barrier. This deficiency may increase nerve susceptibility to microvascular ischemia in certain conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Thrombomodulin (TM) is a key regulator of coagulation and inflammation.
- TM is found in systemic microcirculation but reduced in areas prone to stroke.
- Its presence and distribution in human nerve vasculature are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and differential expression of TM in human nerve microvasculature.
- To determine TM expression relative to vessel caliber and proximity to the blood-nerve barrier.
Main Methods:
- Sural nerve biopsies were analyzed using immunohistochemistry.
- TM expression was quantified as the proportion of TM-positive microvessels relative to von Willebrand factor (vWF)-positive vessels.
Main Results:
- TM was detected in epineurial arterioles (47%) and smaller epineurial vessels (43%), and endoneurial vessels (30%).
- TM expression was absent in perineurial vessels, located near the blood-nerve barrier.
- vWF was present in all microvessels examined.
Conclusions:
- Human nerve microvasculature expresses TM, but it is regionally deficient near the blood-nerve barrier.
- This regional deficiency may predispose nerves to microvascular ischemia during inflammatory or prothrombotic states.