Varicose veins show enhanced chemokine expression.
OBJECTIVE
Leucocyte infiltration in the wall of varicose veins has been reported previously. This study was designed to investigate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in control and in patients with varicose veins and to test the effect of treating varicose vein patients with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on cytokine expression prior to removal of varices.


METHODS
Sections of vein were removed during operation from both patient groups, and ribonuclease protection assays (RPAs) were performed to assess the expression of chemokines. Group I included non-varicose saphenous veins from healthy patients undergoing amputation for trauma. Varicose veins were obtained from patients with primary varicose undergoing surgical treatment who received no drug (group II) or treatment with 300 mg day(-1) of ASA for 15 days before surgery (group III).


RESULTS
Non-varicose veins constitutively expressed low levels of monocyte-chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) and interleukin (IL)-8 mRNA. Varicose veins had a distinct chemokine expression pattern, since significant up-regulation of MCP-1 and IL-8 and a marked expression of IP-10, RANTES, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta mRNA were detected. Removal of the endothelium did not alter this pattern. Varicose veins obtained from patients treated with ASA showed a consistent decrease in chemokine expression, although it did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Varicose veins showed increased expression of several chemokines compared to control veins. A non-significant reduction of activation was observed following treatment with ASA for 15 days.
Solá
L del Rio
Ldel R
Vascular Surgery Division, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Valladolid, Spain.
Aceves
M
M
Dueñas
A I
AI
González-Fajardo
J A
JA
Vaquero
C
C
Crespo
M Sanchez
MS
García-Rodríguez
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001241:Aspirin