title: [The role of anti-endothelial cell antibodies in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and diabetic angiopathy].
abstract: Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) are a heterogeneous group of autoantibodies directed against antigens located on endothelial cells. AECA can be detected in a wide variety of clinically distinct diseases in which the common feature appears to be immune, inflammatory-mediated damage to the vessel wall. In in vitro studies it has been demonstrated that AECA possess functional properties, such as endothelial cell activation leading to the induction of a pro-inflammatory/pro-coagulant phenotype of the endothelial cells. Increasing evidence is accumulating on the possibility that AECA may play an important role in the development or progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Moreover, it has been suggested that AECA may contribute to the instability of angina and postangioplasty intimal proliferation, associated with the high restenosis rate after PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty). In diabetes these autoantibodies seem to be involved in the complex pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Angiologii, Nadciśnienia, Tetniczego i Diabetologii Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu. joannakluz@wp.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kluz
authors.forename: Rajmund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adamiec
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000276:immunology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000276:immunology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; C087589:anti-endothelial cell antibody