Related Experiment Videos
Vascular adhesion molecules and immunogenicity in blood vessels used as coronary artery bypass grafts
A H Chester1, J A Borland, P M Taylor
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
Insights
Bypass graft vessels express molecules that attract blood cells, potentially impacting graft performance. Understanding these molecules may help improve interactions and graft outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Immunology
- Surgical Research
Background:
- Coronary bypass graft performance is influenced by circulating cells adhering to the endothelium.
- Cellular adherence is the first step in biological effects, preceding migration into the perivascular space.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of cell adhesion molecules in human blood vessels used as bypass conduits.
- To identify molecules regulating cell adhesion in saphenous vein, internal mammary artery, gastroepiploic artery, and inferior epigastric artery.
Main Methods:
- Segments of four human vessel types were analyzed using monoclonal antibodies.
- Staining targeted endothelial markers (EN-4, Pal-E, von Willebrand factor [vWF]), cell adhesion molecules (PECAM, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin), leukocyte marker (CD45), and MHC class I and II antigens.
- Immunoperoxidase staining visualized antigen expression.
Main Results:
- All vessels strongly expressed endothelial markers (EN4, vWF, PECAM) and MHC class I.
- Expression of Pal-E, ICAM-1, E-Selectin, and MHC class II (DR) was lower.
- VCAM-1 and other MHC class II determinants (DP, DQ) showed weaker expression.
- No significant differences in molecule expression were observed among the four vessel types.
Conclusions:
- Vessels used for bypass grafts are immunogenic and can interact with blood components.
- Identifying specific adhesion molecules offers potential targets for modulating these interactions and improving graft function.
Objective:
The performance of coronary bypass grafts can be affected by a variety of circulating cell types. The initial event in any biological effect of such cells is adherence to the vascular endothelium prior to migration into the perivascular space. We aimed to investigate the expression of molecules that regulate cell adhesion in blood vessels employed as bypass conduits.
Methods:
Segments of human saphenous vein, internal mammary artery, gastroepiploic artery and inferior epigastric artery were stained using specific monoclonal antibodies against the endothelial workers EN-4, Pal-E, von Willebrand factor small (vWF), and the cell adhesion molecules platelet-endothelium cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, the leucocyte marker (CD45) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigens, with visualisation by ABC immunoperoxidase method.
Results:
All vessels had a strong expression of the endothelial specific antigens EN4, vWF, and PECAM as well as MHC class I. However, there was less expression of Pal-E, ICAM-1, E-Selectin and of the DR determinant of MHC class II. VCAM-1, DP and DQ determinants of MHC class II were expressed to a weaker extent. There were no marked differences in the expression of all the molecules examined between the four vessel types.
Conclusion:
Thus vessels used as bypass grafts are immunogenic and possess the potential to attract and interact with blood elements. Definition of the molecules responsible could offer opportunities for modulating the response to such interactions.