Plasminogen activators, matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in implanted vascular prostheses.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of plasminogen activators (PAs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the healing of prosthetic grafts.


METHODS
Thirty explanted grafts (16 Dacron and 14 PTFE) were studied immunohistochemically using antibodies to PAs, MMPs, and their inhibitors. The percentages of immunostain-positive multinucleated giant cells (MGC) were related to duration of implantation (early vs late), type of lesion (stenosis vs false aneurysm), graft material (Dacron vs PTFE), and graft status (occluded vs patent).


RESULTS
All specimens were positive for PAs and MMPs. There were no significant differences in the percentages of MGCs positive for PAs, MMPs, or tissue inhibitor type 2 of MMP (TIMP-2) between the groups. The percentage of TIMP-1 in the aneurysm group (mean, 26%) was significantly lower than that of the stenosis group (mean, 46%) (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
After the implantation of a vascular prosthesis, PAs and MMPs are expressed in cell migration, proliferation and matrix construction. Under-expression of TIMP-1 may be related to the formation of an anastomotic aneurysm.
Urayama
H
H
First Department of Surgery, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
Katada
S
S
Kasashima
F
F
Tanaka
Y
Y
Kawasuji
K
K
Watanabe
Y
Y
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology*; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000502:physiology*; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators / Q000502:physiology*; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases