title: Giant cell arteritis in association with cerebral amyloid angiopathy: immunohistochemical and molecular studies.
abstract: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) usually manifests as a transmural vascular infiltrate of mononuclear and multinucleated giant cells (MNGC). We describe six patients with GCA associated with severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), all with cerebral hemorrhage or varying degrees of cerebral infarct, and histological evidence of Alzheimer's disease (cortical CAA often predominating over senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles). One case showed mostly cortical involvement (with old microhemorrhages), and the others were primarily leptomeningeal (with involvement of the underlying cortex and extensive encephalomalacia of adjacent brain). Many vessels with CAA exhibited a pronounced adventitial and perivascular infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and MNGC. Immunohistochemical staining showed deposition of beta/A4 peptide primarily in the thickened media of CAA vessels, and within the cytoplasm of MNGC--suggesting phagocytosis of insoluble peptide. Cystatin C antibody stained vascular amyloid and diffusely highlighted astrocytic and MNGC cytoplasm. HAM56-positive macrophages were frequently seen around amyloid-laden vessels. Anti-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry suggests the occurrence of medial destruction by amyloid, with relative preservation of intimal cells. Ultrastructural studies performed in one case confirmed the presence of intracytoplasmic amyloid in MNGC. The GCA seen in these cases of CAA most likely represents a foreign body response to amyloid proteins, causing secondary destruction of the vessel wall. DNA from brain tissues of five affected patients was examined to assess whether mutations were present in exon 17 of the APP gene or exon 2 of the cystatin C gene, a finding that might explain the foreign body giant cell response to amyloid proteins in these cases. However, restriction fragment mapping of amplified gene segments showed that previously described mutations were not present in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (Neuropathology), UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1732, USA.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Anders
authors.forename: Z Z
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kornfeld
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soontornniyomkij
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menchine
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Secor
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Vinters
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics; D001099:Arachnoid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D016657:Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; C525030:CST3 protein, human; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins