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Carney BC, Travis TE, Moffatt LT, Johnson LS, McLawhorn MM, Simbulan-Rosenthal CM, Rosenthal DS, Shupp JW. Hypopigmented burn hypertrophic scar contains melanocytes that can be signaled to re-pigment by synthetic alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone in vitro. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248985. [PMID: 33765043 PMCID: PMC7993611 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
There are limited treatments for dyschromia in burn hypertrophic scars (HTSs). Initial work in Duroc pig models showed that regions of scar that are light or dark have equal numbers of melanocytes. This study aims to confirm melanocyte presence in regions of hypo- and hyper-pigmentation in an animal model and patient samples. In a Duroc pig model, melanocyte presence was confirmed using en face staining. Patients with dyschromic HTSs had demographic, injury details, and melanin indices collected. Punch biopsies were taken of regions of hyper-, hypo-, or normally pigmented scar and skin. Biopsies were processed to obtain epidermal sheets (ESs). A subset of ESs were en face stained with melanocyte marker, S100β. Melanocytes were isolated from a different subset. Melanocytes were treated with NDP α-MSH, a pigmentation stimulator. mRNA was isolated from cells, and was used to evaluate gene expression of melanin-synthetic genes. In patient and pig scars, regions of hyper-, hypo-, and normal pigmentation had significantly different melanin indices. S100β en face staining showed that regions of hyper- and hypo-pigmentation contained the same number of melanocytes, but these cells had different dendricity/activity. Treatment of hypo-pigmented melanocytes with NDP α-MSH produced melanin by microscopy. Melanin-synthetic genes were upregulated in treated cells over controls. While traditionally it may be thought that hypopigmented regions of burn HTS display this phenotype because of the absence of pigment-producing cells, these data show that inactive melanocytes are present in these scar regions. By treating with a pigment stimulator, cells can be induced to re-pigment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie C. Carney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Firefighters’ Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Taryn E. Travis
- Firefighters’ Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, The Burn Center, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Lauren T. Moffatt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Firefighters’ Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Laura S. Johnson
- Firefighters’ Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, The Burn Center, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Melissa M. McLawhorn
- Firefighters’ Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Cynthia M. Simbulan-Rosenthal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Dean S. Rosenthal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey W. Shupp
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Firefighters’ Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, The Burn Center, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Orekhov AN, Ivanova EA, Markin AM, Nikiforov NG, Sobenin IA. Genetics of Arterial-Wall-Specific Mechanisms in Atherosclerosis: Focus on Mitochondrial Mutations. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2020; 22:54. [PMID: 32772280 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-020-00873-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Mutations in both nuclear and mitochondrial genes are associated with the development of atherosclerotic lesions in arteries and may provide a partial explanation to the focal nature of lesion distribution in the arterial wall. This review is aimed to discuss the genetic aspects of atherogenesis with a special focus on possible pro-atherogenic variants (mutations) of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes that may be implicated in atherosclerosis development and progression. RECENT FINDINGS Mutations in the nuclear genes generally do not cause a phenotype restricted to a specific vascular wall cell and manifest themselves mostly at the organism level. Such mutations can act as important contributors to changes in lipid metabolism and modulate other risk factors of atherosclerosis. By contrast, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations occurring locally in the arterial wall cells or in circulating immune cells may play a site-specific role in atherogenesis. The mosaic distribution of heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations in the arterial wall tissue may explain, at least to some extent, the locality and focality of atherosclerotic lesions distribution. The genetic mechanisms of atherogenesis include alterations of both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Altered lipid metabolism and inflammatory response of resident arterial wall and circulating immune cells may be related to mtDNA damage and defective mitophagy, which hinders clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria. Mutations of mtDNA can have mosaic distribution and locally affect functionality of endothelial and subendothelial intimal cells in the arterial wall contributing to atherosclerotic lesion development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N Orekhov
- Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 8 Baltiiskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 125315. .,Laboratory of Infection Pathology and Molecular Microecology, Institute of Human Morphology, 3 Tsyurupa Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418.
| | - Ekaterina A Ivanova
- Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, 2-1-207 Osennyaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 121609.
| | - Alexander M Markin
- Laboratory of Infection Pathology and Molecular Microecology, Institute of Human Morphology, 3 Tsyurupa Street, Moscow, Russia, 117418
| | - Nikita G Nikiforov
- Centre of Collective Usage, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilova Street, Moscow, Russia, 119334.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Institute of Experimental Cardiology, National Medical Research Center of Cardiology, 15A 3-rd Cherepkovskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 121552
| | - Igor A Sobenin
- Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 8 Baltiiskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 125315.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Institute of Experimental Cardiology, National Medical Research Center of Cardiology, 15A 3-rd Cherepkovskaya Street, Moscow, Russia, 121552
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3
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Alkhalil A, Carney BC, Travis TE, Muhie S, Miller SA, Ramella-Roman JC, Ghassemi P, Hammamieh R, Jett M, Moffatt LT, Shupp JW. Dyspigmented hypertrophic scars: Beyond skin color. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019; 32:643-656. [PMID: 30849202 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Although pigment synthesis is well understood, relevant mechanisms of psychologically debilitating dyspigmentation in nascent tissue after cutaneous injuries are still unknown. Here, differences in genomic transcription of hyper- and hypopigmented tissue relative to uninjured skin were investigated using a red Duroc swine scar model. Transcription profiles differed based on pigmentation phenotypes with a trend of more upregulation or downregulation in hyper- or hypopigmented scars, respectively. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of significantly modulated genes in both pigmentation phenotypes showed pathways related to redox, metabolic, and inflammatory responses were more present in hypopigmented samples, while those related to stem cell development differentiation were found mainly in hyperpigmented samples. Cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions and inflammation responses were predicted (z-score) active in hyperpigmented and inactive in hypopigmented. The proinflammatory high-mobility group box 1 pathway showed the opposite trend. Analysis of differentially regulated mutually exclusive genes showed an extensive presence of metabolic, proinflammatory, and oxidative stress pathways in hypopigmented scars, while melanin synthesis, glycosaminoglycans biosynthesis, and cell differentiation pathways were predominant in hyperpigmented scar. Several potential therapeutic gene targets have been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulnaser Alkhalil
- Firefighters' Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Bonnie C Carney
- Firefighters' Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Taryn E Travis
- Firefighters' Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Surgery, The Burn Center, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Seid Muhie
- Integrative Systems Biology, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Fort Detrick, Maryland
| | - Stacy Ann Miller
- Integrative Systems Biology, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Fort Detrick, Maryland
| | | | - Pehman Ghassemi
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Rasha Hammamieh
- Integrative Systems Biology, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Fort Detrick, Maryland
| | - Marti Jett
- Integrative Systems Biology, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Fort Detrick, Maryland
| | - Lauren T Moffatt
- Firefighters' Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Jeffrey W Shupp
- Firefighters' Burn and Surgical Research Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Surgery, The Burn Center, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
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KARIMI SAFOORA, DADVAR MITRA, DABIR BAHRAM. NUMERICAL MODELING OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS LESION EVOLUTION IN TIME I. INITIAL STAGE OF THE DISEASE. J MECH MED BIOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1142/s0219519416500688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of death in the developed world. The disease, which is an inflammatory disease, has been the focus of many studies. A few studies attempted to model atherosclerosis lesion development mathematically while no attention has been paid to the multistage nature of the disease. The present study provides a mathematical model for atherosclerosis evolution by focusing on the inflammatory responses of the initial stage of the disease. In the model, the inflammatory response in type I lesion, which includes endothelium dysfunction, LDL oxidation, monocytes entry, foam cell formation and intima property changes, are coupled with the transport equations of blood and LDL in lumen and arterial wall. The innovation of the model is determination of the duration of the initial stage of lesion propagation for a specific patient while the presence of leaky junction in endothelial layer and LDL oxidation in the intima layer are considered. The greatest advantage of the study in comparison with previous studies is to provide a model for the initiating stage of the atherosclerosis development so that a more precise result of the disease evolution is obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- SAFOORA KARIMI
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful 64616-18674, Iran
| | - MITRA DADVAR
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - BAHRAM DABIR
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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Kohn JC, Chen A, Cheng S, Kowal DR, King MR, Reinhart-King CA. Mechanical heterogeneities in the subendothelial matrix develop with age and decrease with exercise. J Biomech 2016; 49:1447-1453. [PMID: 27020750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Arterial stiffening occurs with age and is associated with lack of exercise. Notably both age and lack of exercise are major cardiovascular risk factors. While it is well established that bulk arterial stiffness increases with age, more recent data suggest that the intima, the innermost arterial layer, also stiffens during aging. Micro-scale mechanical characterization of individual layers is important because cells primarily sense the matrix that they are in contact with and not necessarily the bulk stiffness of the vessel wall. To investigate the relationship between age, exercise, and subendothelial matrix stiffening, atomic force microscopy was utilized here to indent the subendothelial matrix of the thoracic aorta from young, aged-sedentary, and aged-exercised mice, and elastic modulus values were compared to conventional pulse wave velocity measurements. The subendothelial matrix elastic modulus was elevated in aged-sedentary mice compared to young or aged-exercised mice, and the macro-scale stiffness of the artery was found to linearly correlate with the subendothelial matrix elastic modulus. Notably, we also found that with age, there exists an increase in the point-to-point variations in modulus across the subendothelial matrix, indicating non-uniform stiffening. Importantly, this heterogeneity is reversible with exercise. Given that vessel stiffening is known to cause aberrant endothelial cell behavior, and the spatial heterogeneities we find exist on a length scale much smaller than the size of a cell, these data suggest that further investigation in the heterogeneity of the subendothelial matrix elastic modulus is necessary to fully understand the effects of physiological matrix stiffening on cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie C Kohn
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Adeline Chen
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Stephanie Cheng
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Daniel R Kowal
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Michael R King
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Cynthia A Reinhart-King
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.
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6
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Wick C. Tolerization against atherosclerosis using heat shock protein 60. Cell Stress Chaperones 2016; 21:201-11. [PMID: 26577462 PMCID: PMC4786533 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-015-0659-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the artery wall, and both innate and adaptive immunity play important roles in the pathogenesis of this disease. In several experimental and human experiments of early atherosclerotic lesions, it has been shown that the first pathogenic event in atherogenesis is intimal infiltration of T cells at predilection sites. These T cells react to heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), which is a ubiquitous self-antigen expressed on the surface of endothelial cells (ECs) together with adhesion molecules in response to classical risk factors for atherosclerosis. When HSP60 is expressed on the EC surface, it can act as a "danger-signal" for both cellular and humoral immune reactions. Acquired by infection or vaccination, beneficial protective immunity to microbial HSP60 and bona fide autoimmunity to biochemically altered autologous HSP60 is present in all humans. Thus, the development of atherosclerosis during aging is paid by the price for lifelong protective preexisting anti-HSP60 immunity by harmful (auto)immune cross-reactive attack on arterial ECs maltreated by atherosclerosis risk factors. This is supported by experiments, which shows that bacterial HSP60 immunization can lead and accelerate experimental atherosclerosis. This review article presents accumulating proof that supports the idea that tolerization with antigenic HSP60 protein or its peptides may arrest or even prevent atherosclerosis by increased production of regulatory T cells and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines. Recent data indicates that HSP60, or more likely some of its derivative peptides, has immunoregulatory functions. Therefore, these peptides may have important potential for being used as diagnostic agents or therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Wick
- Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) L8:04, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, S-17176, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Division for Experimental Pathophysiology and Immunology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, A-6020, Austria.
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7
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Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic, multifactorial disease that starts in youth, manifests clinically later in life, and can lead to myocardial infarction, stroke, claudication, and death. Although inflammatory processes have long been known to be involved in atherogenesis, interest in this subject has grown in the past 30-40 years. Animal experiments and human analyses of early atherosclerotic lesions have shown that the first pathogenic event in atherogenesis is the intimal infiltration of T cells at arterial branching points. These T cells recognize heat shock protein (HSP)60, which is expressed together with adhesion molecules by endothelial cells in response to classic risk factors for atherosclerosis. Although these HSP60-reactive T cells initiate atherosclerosis, antibodies to HSP60 accelerate and perpetuate the disease. All healthy humans develop cellular and humoral immunity against microbial HSP60 by infection or vaccination. Given that prokaryotic (bacterial) and eukaryotic (for instance, human) HSP60 display substantial sequence homology, atherosclerosis might be the price we pay for this protective immunity, if risk factors stress the vascular endothelial cells beyond physiological conditions.
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8
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the recent data on the 'Autoimmune Concept of Atherosclerosis', according to which the first stage of this disease is due to an autoimmune reaction against arterial endothelial cells expressing heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and adhesion molecules when stressed by classical atherosclerosis risk factors. Special emphasis is put on oxidized low-density lipoproteins as early endothelial stressors. RECENT FINDINGS Plasma cholesterol and LDL levels considered 'normal' by the medical community are possibly too high from an evolutionary viewpoint. The proinflammatory milieu at sites of early atherosclerotic lesions could be conducive to oxidation of LDL in situ. LDL oxidation can also take place at nonvascular sites or in the circulation under general proinflammatory conditions explaining its proatherosclerotic role in 'normocholesterolemic' individuals. SUMMARY We hypothesize that the plasma cholesterol and LDL levels currently considered normal are evolutionarily too high. Cholesterol and/or oxidized low-density lipoprotein, even as a mild HSP60-inducing endothelial stressor, function as a ubiquitous risk factor. If this hypothesis is true, most members of developed societies might be at risk to develop atherosclerotic plaques at anti-HSP60-immunity-triggered intimal inflammatory foci, irrespective of the primary risk-factor(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Grundtman
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Division for Experimental Pathophysiology and Immunology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Widespread distribution of HLA-DR-expressing cells in macroscopically undiseased intima of the human aorta: a possible role in surveillance and maintenance of vascular homeostasis. Immunobiology 2011; 217:558-68. [PMID: 21601938 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2011.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Revised: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The architectonics and cell composition of the human large arteries are not sufficiently understood. The present study is the first to undertake an analysis of the distribution and quantities of HLA-DR-expressing cells in grossly undiseased human intima using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent analysis, complemented by the advantages of confocal microscopy. The study revealed a widespread distribution of HLA-DR-expressing cells throughout the intimal space where the cells were integrated into continuous networks via long cell processes. Numbers of HLA-DR+ cells were found to be significantly larger in the middle third of the intima than in the superficial and deep intimal portions. We speculate that a widespread distribution of HLA-DR-expressing cells in the intima of normal human aorta might play a role in the surveillance and maintenance of vascular homeostasis.
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Ferrara DE, Weiss D, Carnell PH, Vito RP, Vega D, Gao X, Nie S, Taylor WR. Quantitative 3D fluorescence technique for the analysis of en face preparations of arterial walls using quantum dot nanocrystals and two-photon excitation laser scanning microscopy. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2005; 290:R114-23. [PMID: 16223849 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00449.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Traditional imaging with one-photon confocal microscopy and organic fluorophores poses several challenges for the visualization of vascular tissue, including autofluorescence, fluorophore crosstalk, and photobleaching. We studied human coronary arteries (HCAs) and mouse aortas with a modified immunohistochemical (IHC) "en face" method using quantum dot (Qdot) bioconjugates and two-photon excitation laser scanning microscopy (TPELSM). We demonstrated the feasibility of multilabeling intimal structures by exciting multicolored Qdots with only one laser wavelength (750 nm). Detailed cell structures, such as the granular appearance of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and the subcellular distribution of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, were visualized using green dots (525 nm), even when the emission maximum of these Qdots overlapped that of tissue autofluorescence (510-520 nm). In addition, sensitive fluorescence quantification of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression at areas of varying hemodynamics (intercostal branches vs. nonbranching areas) was performed in normal C57Bl/6 mice. Finally, we took advantage of the photostability of Qdots and the inherent three-dimensional (3D) resolution of TPELSM to obtain large z-stack series without photobleaching. This innovative en face method allowed simple multicolor profiling, highly sensitive fluorescence quantitation, and 3D visualization of the vascular endothelium with excellent spatial resolution. This is a promising technique to define the spatial and temporal interactions of endothelial inflammatory markers and quantify the effects of different interventions on the endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dardo E Ferrara
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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11
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Abstract
Immunoinflammatory processes are discussed increasingly as possible pathogenic factors for the development of atherosclerosis. Here, we summarize the data on which we have built our immunological hypothesis of atherogenesis. This concept is based on the observation that almost all humans have cellular and humoral immune reactions against microbial heat-shock protein 60 (HSP60). Because a high degree of antigenic homology exists between microbial (bacterial and parasitic) and human HSP60, the 'cost' of immunity to microbes might be the danger of cross-reactivity with human HSP60 expressed by the endothelial cells of stressed arteries. Genuine autoimmunity against altered autologous HSP60 might trigger this process also.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Wick
- Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Rennweg 10, 6020-Innsbruck, Austria.
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Millonig G, Schwentner C, Mueller P, Mayerl C, Wick G. The vascular-associated lymphoid tissue: a new site of local immunity. Curr Opin Lipidol 2001; 12:547-53. [PMID: 11561175 DOI: 10.1097/00041433-200110000-00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Recent data suggest that atherosclerosis might be a systemic (auto)immune reaction against heat shock protein 60, first occurring at notorious local predilection sites, i.e. the intima at arterial branching points. The local infiltration of mononuclear cells, mainly macrophage-derived foam cells, T cells and smooth-muscle cells in atheromatous plaques, have long been described. During the past few years, research has been concentrated on the early stages in the development of atherosclerosis, and on healthy arteries from young individuals unaffected by arterial disease. In this review, we summarize data characterizing pre-existing mononuclear cell infiltrations in healthy arteries from children and teenagers. These arterial accumulations at regions known to be predilection sites for the later development of atherosclerosis consist mostly of activated T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells, with only a few mast cells and virtually no B or natural killer cells. In analogy to the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, we termed these accumulations 'vascular-associated lymphoid tissue', and assumed a similar function as a local immunosurveillance system, monitoring the bloodstream for potentially harmful endogenous or exogenous antigens. In addition to the remarkable accumulation of mononuclear cells, the vascular-associated lymphoid tissue regions are characterized by a typical distribution of extracellular matrix proteins: collagen type I, collagen type III, fibronectin and tenascin are expressed preferentially in the vascular-associated lymphoid tissue region, whereas collagen type IV, collagen type V, collagen type VI and laminin show a homogenous distribution throughout all regions of the intima. Vascular adhesion molecules type 1, intercellular adhesion molecules type 1 and P-selectin are already present on the healthy endothelial cells of young children. Interactions between adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix components and cellular elements of the vascular-associated lymphoid tissue may provide the basis for the cellular accumulations in the vascular-associated lymphoid tissue regions and the possible development of atherosclerotic lesions later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Millonig
- Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, Austria
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