title: Calcitonin receptor immunoreactivity associated with specific cell types in diseased radial and internal mammary arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine and quantify calcitonin receptor (CTR) immunoreactivity associated with specific cell types within, and associated with, the endothelial layers, neo-intima, media and vasa vasorum of diseased radial and internal mammary arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemistry and anti-CTR antibodies were used to identify positive cells within remnants of diseased human radial (n = 3) and internal mammary arteries (n = 4) that remained after bypass surgery. Three cell types expressed CTR, including endothelial cells, fibroblast-like cells within the neo-intima, and cellular structures aligned with the smooth muscle cells of the media. Other smaller cells within the surrounding parenchyma of the vasa vasorum of diseased vessels and blood-borne cells were also immunoreactive. Immunoquantification of CTR expression (Intensity x Proportional Area) in the endothelium (P < 0.05), neo-intima (P < 0.02) and media (P < 0.03) established a significant statistical correlation (Students' two-tailed t-test) with the ratio of intimal/media thickness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased immunoreactivity developed using anti-CTR antibodies was associated with specific cell types in the endothelial layers, neo-intima, media and vasa vasorum of diseased regions of radial and internal mammary arteries, in which there was an increased intimal/media ratio. Furthermore, CTR+, blood-borne cells present in the vessels of diseased regions suggest recruitment into these surrounding tissues.
authors: Departments of Cardiology, Medicine (University of Melbourne), and Cardiac Surgery, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. pwookey@unimelb.edu.au
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Wookey
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Zulli
authors: B F
authors: BF
authors: Buxton
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Hare
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018003:Receptors, Calcitonin