title: Endothelial cell death and intimal foam cell accumulation in the coronary artery of infected hypercholesterolemic minipigs.
abstract: Apoptosis of endothelial cells (ECs) has been suggested to play a role in atherosclerosis. We studied the synergism of hypercholesterolemia with Chlamydia pneumoniae and influenza virus infections on EC morphology and intimal changes in a minipig model. The coronary artery was excised at euthanasia (19 weeks of age) and serial sections were processed for the detection of EC apoptosis, histology, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. There was a significantly higher number of TUNEL-positive ECs in infected compared to noninfected groups [0.2942 % (interquartile ranges (IR), 0.2941; n = 26) versus 0 % (IR, 0; n = 12), p < 0.01]. Caspase-3 staining was negative. Cholesterol diet together with infections induced widening of the subendothelial space and appearance of increased numbers of foam cells. TEM revealed degenerative changes in cytoplasmic organelles and signs of EC necrosis. In conclusion, infection leads to an increase in coronary EC death and seems to exacerbate cholesterol-induced intimal thickening and foam cell accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Ridebanevej 9, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. mbirck@sund.ku.dk
authors.forename: Malene M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Birck
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saraste
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hyttel
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odermarsky
authors.forename: Petru
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liuba
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saukko
authors.forename: Axel K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pesonen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009336:Necrosis; D058426:Neointima; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D053148:Caspase 3