C-type natriuretic peptide in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions.
BACKGROUND
C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) belongs to the natriuretic peptide family and is considered to have regulatory effects on vascular tone and smooth muscle growth. Since these features play a role in atherogenesis, the presence of CNP at such sites was studied.


RESULTS
Thirty-three coronary artery segments were harvested at autopsy: 10 normal, with diffuse intimal thickening, and 23 atherosclerotic lesions. Samples were snap-frozen and processed for immunohistochemical staining. For the identification of CNP, a mouse monoclonal antibody (KY-CNP-1) was used. 1A4, EBM-11 (CD68), and von Willebrand factor antibodies were used to stain smooth muscle cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells, respectively. CNP is present in several cell types. Normal arterial segments show CNP-positive endothelial cells. Hypercellular atherosclerotic lesions show distinct CNP positivity of smooth muscle cells and macrophages but a decrease in positivity of endothelial cells. Advanced atherosclerotic lesions contain CNP-positive macrophages, but the smooth muscle cells within the fibrous cap and the surface endothelial cells are almost all CNP-negative.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that CNP has functional significance in atherogenesis.
Naruko
T
T
Department of Cardiovascular Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ueda
M
M
van der Wal
A C
AC
van der Loos
C M
CM
Itoh
H
H
Nakao
K
K
Becker
A E
AE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000032:analysis; D001344:Autopsy; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D011506:Proteins; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor