PLASMA CELL INFILTRATION AND MUCOID DEGENERATION IN THE MEDIA OF ASCENDING AORTA IN PATIENT WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract

Aims Atherosclerosis results in inflammatory changes in the aortic intima， but little is known regarding medial changes. Atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta coexists with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the atherosclerotic changes in 44 biopsy specimens of media of the ascending aorta associated with coronary artery disease. Plasma cells do not appear in non-inflammatory tissue. Methods We compared plasma cells，and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2-，-9- and -12-positive cells immunohistochemically，and we also compared mucoid degeneration and fibrosis determined by staining using a point-counting method，for groups with a variable number of coronary stenotic (≧75%)lesions. Results In patients with one to three coronary stenotic lesions，plasma cells and mucoid degeneration were low in the aortic media. With four to five lesions，bo th plasma cells and mucoid degeneration increased significantly compared with those in the group with one to three lesions，and MMP-12-positive cells significantly decreased. In patients with six to nine lesions，the number of plasma cells was significantly lower than in patients with four or five lesions，whereas mucoid degeneration significantly increased. There was no change in fibrosis. Conclusions These findings may help us to better understand and treat atherosclerosis.