Smooth muscle cells of human intracranial aneurysms assume phenotypic features similar to those of the atherosclerotic plaque

Abstract Objectives Characterize the phenotypic features of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the wall of human saccular intracranial aneurysms (sIAs). Methods and Results We investigated by means of immunohistochemistry the expression of the cytoskeletal differentiation markers α-smooth muscle actin (α...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cardiovascular pathology 2013-09, Vol.22 (5), p.339-344
Main Authors: Coen, Matteo, Burkhardt, Karim, Bijlenga, Philippe, Gabbiani, Giulio, Schaller, Karl, Kövari, Enikö, Rüfenacht, Daniel A, Ruíz, Diego San Millán, Pizzolato, Giampaolo, Bochaton-Piallat, Marie-Luce
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins - metabolism
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Atherosclerosis
Biomarkers - metabolism
Case-Control Studies
CD68
Cell Dedifferentiation
Cell Differentiation
Cerebral Arteries - metabolism
Cerebral Arteries - pathology
Cytoskeletal Proteins - metabolism
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Intracranial Aneurysm - metabolism
Intracranial Aneurysm - pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Proteins - metabolism
Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism
Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - pathology
Myosin Heavy Chains - metabolism
Pathology
Phenotype
Plaque, Atherosclerotic - metabolism
Plaque, Atherosclerotic - pathology
S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4
S100 Proteins - metabolism
Smooth muscle myosin heavy chains
Smoothelin
α-smooth muscle actin
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Summary:Abstract Objectives Characterize the phenotypic features of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the wall of human saccular intracranial aneurysms (sIAs). Methods and Results We investigated by means of immunohistochemistry the expression of the cytoskeletal differentiation markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), smooth muscle myosin heavy chains (SMMHCs), and smoothelin in 26 sIAs and 15 nonaneurysmal cerebral arteries. In addition, S100A4, a recently identified marker of dedifferentiated SMCs in atherosclerotic plaques, was also investigated. Six sIAs and 5 nonaneurysmal arteries were used for morphometric analysis. sIAs displayed a significant medial atrophy compared with nonaneurysmal cerebral arteries; moreover, sIA SMCs showed marked decrease of α-SMA and SMMHCs expression and disappearance of smoothelin. Unexpectedly, S100A4 was strongly up-regulated in media SMCs of sIAs. Conclusions In sIAs, media SMCs acquire a dedifferentiated phenotype and show de novo expression of S100A4, characteristic features of atherosclerotic plaque SMCs.
ISSN:1054-8807
1879-1336
DOI:10.1016/j.carpath.2013.01.083