[Expression of urotensinII in human coronary artery and coronary atherosclerosis]

To assess the expression intensity of urotensinII (UII) in normal and atheromatous human coronary artery and explore its significance in coronary atherosclerosis.

Specimens of coronary arteries were obtained from 5 normal subjects and the expression of human UII in the specimens was detected by immunohistochemical method.

UII expression was found in the endothelial cells (ECs), foam cells (FCs), inflammatory cells (ICs) and intima smooth muscle cells (ISMs) of human coronary artery. Even in the normal coronary artery, UII expression could be detected immunohistochemically in the ECs, which, however, was characterized by higher UII expression levels in fatty streak lesions but by almost normal levels in fibrous and atheromatous plaque in the coronary artery. Enhanced UII expression was observed in FCs and ICs when fibrous plaque and atheromatous plaque developed in comparison with that in fatty streak lesions. The ISMs in all the lesions had mild UII immunoreactivity, but as the atherosclerosis exacerbated, the immunoreactivity tended to intensify.

Human UII may regulate the functions of ECs, FCs, ICs and ISMs in the development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis.