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Published on: January 12, 2020
Altered collagen expression in jugular veins in multiple sclerosis.
Matteo Coen1, Erica Menegatti, Fabrizio Salvi
1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Summary
Multiple sclerosis patients show thickened internal jugular veins with more type III collagen. These venous abnormalities may contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Biology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Vascular involvement is suspected in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Recent debate surrounds cerebral venous outflow impairment in MS patients.
- This study investigates the internal jugular veins (IJVs) in MS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the morphological and biological characteristics of IJVs in MS patients.
- To compare IJV features between MS patients and controls.
- To assess collagen deposition and protein expression in IJVs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of IJV and great saphenous vein specimens from MS patients and controls.
- Sirius red staining and polarized light microscopy for collagen assessment.
- Immunohistochemical investigation of collagen types I and III, cytoskeletal proteins, and inflammatory markers.
Main Results:
- MS patients' extracranial veins exhibited focal wall thickenings.
- These thickenings showed a prevalence of thin, loosely packed collagen fibers (type III collagen).
- No significant differences in cytoskeletal protein or inflammatory marker expression were found between groups.
Conclusions:
- MS patients' IJVs with focal thickening display adventitial type III collagen prevalence.
- The observed venous alterations in MS require further study to confirm their role in pathogenesis.
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