Growth factor production by arterial and vein grafts: relevance to coronary artery bypass grafting.
BACKGROUND
Occlusion caused by myointimal hyperplasia, atherosclerosis, or both is the main reason for late failure of saphenous vein coronary artery bypass grafts. On the other hand, internal mammary artery grafts are usually spared from atherosclerosis. Evidence exists that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are involved in the genesis of myointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the production of PDGF and bFGF by arterial and vein grafts.


METHODS
In 20 inbred Lewis rats alpha 1 cm long segment of arterial graft was interposed at the level of the abdominal aorta. In a control group of 20 Lewis rats alpha 1 cm long segment of vein graft was implanted at the level of the abdominal aorta. Animals were killed 4 weeks after operation, and the grafts were studied in serum-free organ culture to assess the production of PDGF and bFGF. RESULTS. Arterial grafts produced a smaller quantity of PDGF and bFGF than vein grafts (p < 0.01) Higher mitogenic activity was present in the conditioned media from vein grafts than in the conditioned media from arterial grafts (p < 0.001). A large amount of myointimal hyperplasia was present in all vein grafts.


CONCLUSIONS
This phenomenon could explain the rarity of atherosclerotic changes in internal mammary coronary bypass grafts.
Sterpetti
A V
AV
Department of Surgery, University of Rome-La Sapienza, Italy.
Cucina
A
A
Randone
B
B
Palumbo
R
R
Stipa
F
F
Proietti
P
P
Saragosa
M T
MT
Santoro-D'Angelo
L
L
Cavallaro
A
A
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000637:transplantation*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2