Bone morphogenetic protein expression in human atherosclerotic lesions.
AUTOR(ES)
Boström, K
RESUMO
Artery wall calcification associated with atherosclerosis frequently contains fully formed bone tissue including marrow. The cellular origin is not known. In this study, bone morphogenetic protein-2a, a potent factor for osteoblastic differentiation, was found to be expressed in calcified human atherosclerotic plaque. In addition, cells cultured from the aortic wall formed calcified nodules similar to those found in bone cell cultures and expressed bone morphogenetic protein-2a with prolonged culture. The predominant cells in these nodules had immunocytochemical features characteristic of microvascular pericytes that are capable of osteoblastic differentiation. Pericyte-like cells were also found by immunohistochemistry in the intima of bovine and human aorta. These findings suggest that arterial calcification is a regulated process similar to bone formation, possibly mediated by pericyte-like cells.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=288161Documentos Relacionados
- Increased ferritin gene expression in atherosclerotic lesions.
- Human macrophage scavenger receptors: primary structure, expression, and localization in atherosclerotic lesions.
- Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 in macrophage-rich areas of human and rabbit atherosclerotic lesions.
- Presence of hypochlorite-modified proteins in human atherosclerotic lesions.
- Localization of distinct F2-isoprostanes in human atherosclerotic lesions.