Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology
Open Access

Abstract

The advent of the â�?�?outside-inâ�? atherogenesis concept has aroused attention of researchers to the role of vasa vasorum (VV). The VV network is considered as a possible venue for the inflammatory cells and atherogenic factors penetration, contributing to the plaque formation and progression. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between pathomorphological changes in VV of the large arteries and the status of atherosclerotic plaques there. Autopsy material from 50 cases was examined. VV of large arteries were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue, and picrofuchsin by van Gieson, and studied by immunohistochemical method (for expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD23, and CD45). The atherosclerotic plaques were of various types: either stable (SAP) with a well-defined dense fibrous cover and a small atheromatous nucleus; or unstable ones (UAP) having signs of tearing, cracks and ruptures of covers with greater amounts of extracellular lipids. In the area of UAP, plenteous vascularization of the arterial wall was observed. In the areas of UAP, moderate thickening of the VV wall due to focal deposition of glycosaminoglycans, endothelial degenerative changes, focal inflammatory infiltrates, and a tendency to extravasation were revealed. Immunohistochemical examination revealed there pronounced positive expression of CD3 and CD45. In the areas of stable atherosclerotic plaque, noticeable expression of CD20, CD45 and weak expression of CD3 was noted. VV changes most often occur in areas of the arterial wall with severe chronic inflammatory cell infiltration with the presence of macrophages and CD3+ lymphocytes, which indicates a relationship between the state of VV and the severity of plaque changes that are potentially significant in atherogenesis.

Biography

T.A. Novitskaya works at Laboratory of Microangiopathic Mechanisms of Atherogenesis of St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation.