Pressure distension stimulates the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules in the human saphenous vein graft.
BACKGROUND
Mechanical trauma occurring during saphenous vein graft harvesting plays a major role in graft failure after coronary bypass surgery. There is increasing evidence that neutrophil-endothelial interaction is involved in the pathogenesis of early graft occlusion. This study evaluates the effect of pressure distension on the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules in human saphenous vein.


METHODS
Segments of saphenous vein graft (SVG) were collected from 20 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. We evaluated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), and P-selectin on SVG endothelium under basal conditions and after pressure distension at 300 mm Hg. In the same experimental setting we also evaluated adhesion of both unstimulated and activated neutrophils to the endothelium of SVG.


RESULTS
Control endothelial cells exhibited only a weak staining for intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), and P-selectin, whereas the levels of adhesion molecules increased significantly in the distended veins. Similarly, significantly greater adhesion of both unstimulated and activated neutrophils was observed in distended veins compared with control veins.


CONCLUSIONS
Pressure distension of SVG before coronary bypass surgery induces upregulation of endothelial adhesion molecules, with subsequent increase in neutrophil adhesion to the endothelium. Neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells may contribute to early failure of SVG.
Chello
Massimo
M
Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Interdisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research (CIR), University Campus BioMedico di Roma, Rome, Italy. m.chello@unicampus.it
Mastroroberto
Pasquale
P
Frati
Giacomo
G
Patti
Giuseppe
G
D'Ambrosio
Andrea
A
Di Sciascio
Germano
G
Covino
Elvio
E
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000032:analysis*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019007:P-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1