title: Varicose veins show enhanced chemokine expression.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Division, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: L del Rio
authors.initials: Ldel R
authors.lastname: Solá
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aceves
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Dueñas
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: González-Fajardo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaquero
authors.forename: M Sanchez
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001241:Aspirin