Immunohistochemical analysis of hepatocyte growth factor in human coronary atherectomy specimens: comparison with transforming growth factor beta isoforms.
The expression and localization of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) were examined immunohistochemically in 59 human coronary artery lesions retrieved by directional coronary atherectomy and compared with the localization of transforming growth factor beta isoforms (TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3). In 21 of the 59 specimens (35.6%) HGF-like immunoreactivity (HGF-IR) was revealed. The HGF immunopositivity rate of 45% (14/31) in thrombotic tissue was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the rates of 7.3% (4/55), 7.1% (3/42), and 0% (0/14) in fibrous tissue, neointimal hyperplasia and atheromatous gruel, respectively. Immunoreactivity for HGF was much weaker than that for TGF-beta isoforms in these components except in thrombotic tissue. These cells exhibiting strong HGF-IR were inflammatory cells such as monocytes/macrophages in thrombotic tissue, in tissue lesions adjacent to a thrombus, and outside the capillary walls in a portion of the neovascularized lesions. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) hardly demonstrated HGF-IR. In contrast, in control coronary arteries obtained at autopsy, the HGF-IR was strongly expressed in SMCs. These findings suggest that HGF produced by macrophages play a part in the process of coronary plaque formation attributable to thrombus in man.
Ueda
H
H
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan. hiron@mcai.med.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Imazu
M
M
Hayashi
Y
Y
Ono
K
K
Yasui
W
W
Yamakido
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001158:Arteries / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007536:Isomerism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor