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Role of basic fibroblast growth factor in the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease

K Houkin1, T Yoshimoto, H Abe

  • 1Departments of Neurosurgery, Second Pathology, Second Anatomy, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan; and Department of Neurosurgery, Kushiro Rousai Hospital, Kushiro, Japan.

Neurosurgical Focus
|November 23, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Moyamoya disease pathogenesis involves cytokines. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in moyamoya disease blood vessel walls may suppress smooth muscle cell apoptosis, impacting disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Vascular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The underlying mechanisms of moyamoya disease pathogenesis remain incompletely understood.
  • Cytokines are implicated in vascular remodeling and disease processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of cytokines, specifically basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), in the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease.
  • To analyze cellular apoptosis in intracranial arteries affected by moyamoya disease.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of arterial specimens from moyamoya disease patients and controls.
  • Utilized antibodies against smooth muscle cells (SMCs), monocytes, growth factors, cell nuclear antigen, and fragmented DNA.
  • Applied terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay to detect apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) staining was exclusively observed in endothelial cells of moyamoya disease specimens.
  • Apoptosis was detected in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) within the media but not the intima of moyamoya disease arteries.
  • Control specimens did not exhibit bFGF staining or differential apoptosis patterns.

Conclusions:

  • The presence of bFGF in the media of moyamoya disease arteries may inhibit smooth muscle cell (SMC) apoptosis in the intima.
  • This targeted suppression of apoptosis by bFGF could contribute to the characteristic vascular changes seen in moyamoya disease.

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