| Popis: |
The authors investigated the expression of cytoskeletal proteins and the ultrastructure of cells in normal intima and atheromatous plaque of human aorta. It has been established, using double immunofluorescent method and a set of antibodies that intimal smooth muscle cells /SMC/ of normal aorta express myosin, vimentin, alpha-actin and actin but not desmin. In seven out of 28 atherosclerotic plaques the cells contained desmin and all other SMC cytoskeletal proteins were found. These cells had the ultrastructural features of SMC, i.e. well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Besides, some cells in 13 atherosclerotic plaques proved to be myosin-, alpha-actin- and desmin-negative. The cells were stained with monoclonal antibodies specific to SMC but not with macrophage-specific antibody. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm of the cells was filled with rough endoplasmic reticulum and a developed Golgi complex, but a certain portion of the cells retained basal lamina and myofilament bundles. The peculiarities of cytoskeletal protein in expression and ultrastructure of cells in human aortic atherosclerotic plaques may be explained by a phenotypic modulation of vascular SMC. |
