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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus
Published on: December 7, 2013
Mycotic DNA in non-atherosclerotic aortic wall of coronary patients is associated with sICAM-1 expression
Bogdan Jegier1, Ryszard Jaszewski, Piotr Kurnatowski
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. bjegier@op.pl
Background:
Atherosclerosis is currently being investigated as a chronic inflammatory process and the role of infectious agents is unclear. The presence of mycotic DNA in the wall of the non-atherosclerotic aorta of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and its association with levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 expression was examined in the present study.
Methods And Results:
In 40 patients with CAD and a comparative group of 20 patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) without CAD, specimens of the aortic wall were obtained during cardiac surgery. Mycotic DNA was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a fungus-specific universal primer pair, ITS3 and ITS4, to amplify a portion of the 5.8S rDNA region, the entire ITS2 region and a portion of the 28S rDNA region, and using a species-specific primer pair, CALB1 and CALB2, to specifically amplify Candida (C.) albicans. The nested PCR method was performed to amplify the intergenic transcribed spacer regions of the rRNAs of Candida species. Before surgery the serum level of sICAM-1 was estimated. Mycotic DNA was detected in 48% of the CAD patients and in 40% of the AS patients, with C. albicans DNA in 58% and 100%, respectively (P>0.05). In CAD patients with a high level of sICAM-1, C. albicans DNA was found more frequently than in patients without elevated levels of sICAM-1 (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Mycotic DNA was found in the non-atherosclerotic aortic wall of CAD patients as well as in patients with AS. In the CAD patients C. albicans DNA was related to sICAM-1 expression.
Insights
Mycotic DNA, including Candida albicans, was detected in the aortic walls of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and aortic valve stenosis (AS). In CAD patients, C. albicans DNA correlated with higher soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is increasingly viewed as an inflammatory condition, but the role of infectious agents remains uncertain.
- This study investigated the presence of fungal DNA in the aorta of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the presence of mycotic DNA in the non-atherosclerotic aortic wall of patients with CAD.
- To assess the association between mycotic DNA and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) expression in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Aortic wall specimens were collected from 40 CAD patients and 20 aortic valve stenosis (AS) patients.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect fungal DNA, specifically Candida (C.) albicans DNA.
- Serum sICAM-1 levels were measured before surgery.
Main Results:
- Mycotic DNA was detected in 48% of CAD patients and 40% of AS patients.
- C. albicans DNA was found in 58% of CAD patients and 100% of AS patients (no significant difference).
- In CAD patients, C. albicans DNA was significantly more frequent in those with elevated sICAM-1 levels (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Fungal DNA was present in the non-atherosclerotic aortic wall of both CAD and AS patients.
- In CAD patients, the presence of C. albicans DNA was linked to sICAM-1 expression, suggesting a potential inflammatory role.
