In vitro differences between smooth muscle cells derived from varicose veins and normal veins.
OBJECTIVE
The theory of primary venous dilatation leading to secondary valvular incompetence and varicose vein formation has received more attention nowadays. Although many studies have investigated the role of the main components of the venous wall in the development of varicose veins, the leading cause remains unknown. The present study was designed to establish the role of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the tunica media on the pathogenesis of varicose veins by analyzing the phenotypic and functional differences between SMCs derived from varicose veins and normal veins.


METHODS
SMCs were isolated and cultured from saphenous veins of patients with varicose veins and normal veins. Cell proliferation and migration rates were compared. Expression of phenotype-dependent markers and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP) production were analyzed by immunoblotting. Total collagen synthesis was evaluated by measuring the radioactivity of L-[3, 4-(3)H]proline in the media and the cell layer.


RESULTS
SMCs derived from varicose veins demonstrated increased proliferation (2-fold, P < .01), migration (3-fold, P < .001), MMP-2 production (3-fold, P < .01), and collagen synthesis (>2-fold, P < .001), with decreased expression of phenotype-dependent markers compared with SMCs derived from normal veins (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
SMCs derived from varicose veins are more dedifferentiated and demonstrate increased proliferative and synthetic capacity than SMCs derived from normal veins. These properties may contribute to the remodeling of the venous wall and the weakening of its antipressure capacity.
Xiao
Ying
Y
Research Center of Vascular Surgery, Department of Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Peoples Republic of China.
Huang
Zhibin
Z
Yin
Henghui
H
Lin
Ying
Y
Wang
Shenming
S
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D003094:Collagen; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2