Vascular remodeling in the internal mammary artery graft and association with in situ XXXX expression.

@entity1 @entity32 @entity82 @entity2232 @entity1627 @entity453 @entity65 @entity2231
BACKGROUND: The vasoconstricting peptide @entity2232 ( @entity2232 ) has been associated with @entity65 , vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth stimulation, and intimal thickening. @entity2232 binds 2 receptor subtypes, endothelin A and B, and the @entity2231 receptor mediates vasoconstriction and VSMC growth. This study aims to quantitatively assess arterial remodeling variables and compare them with changes in @entity2232 , @entity2231 , and @entity1627 expression in the internal mammary artery (IMA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Specimens from 55 @entity453 ( @entity453 ) @entity1 (45 @entity1 , 10 @entity1 ; mean age 65 years) and 14 control IMA specimens (from 7 @entity1 and 7 @entity1 ; mean age 45 years) were collected. IMA cross sections were assessed by histochemical and immunohistochemical staining methods to quantify the levels of medionecrosis, @entity82 , VSMC growth, @entity2232 , @entity2231 , @entity1627 , and macrophage infiltration. The percentage area of medionecrosis in the @entity1 was almost double that in the controls (31.85+/-14.52% versus 17.10+/-9.96%, P=0.0006). Total and type 1 collagen was significantly increased compared with controls (65.8+/-18.3% versus 33.7+/-13.7%, P=0.07, and 14.2+/-10.0% versus 4.8+/-2.8%, P=0.01, respectively). Despite ACE and/or statin therapy, @entity2232 expression and cell cycling were significantly elevated in the @entity1 IMAs relative to the controls (46.27+/-18.46 versus 8.56+/-8.42, P=0.0001, and 37.29+/-12.88 versus 11.06+/-8.18, P=0.0001, respectively). @entity2231 and @entity1627 staining was elevated in the @entity1 vessels (46.88+/-11.52% versus 18.58+/-7.65%, P=0.0001, and 42.98+/-7.08% versus 34.73+/-5.20%, P=0.0067, respectively). A mild presence of macrophages was noted in all sections. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated distribution of collagen indicative of @entity82 coupled with increased cell cycling and high levels of @entity2232 and @entity2231 expression in the absence of chronic @entity32 suggests altered IMA VSMC regulation is fundamental to the remodeling process.
