title: Co-expression of vascular and lymphatic endothelial cell markers on early endothelial cells present in aspirated coronary thrombi from patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiogenesis is the growth of both new vascular and lymphatic blood vessels from the existing vasculature. During this process, blood endothelial cells (BECs) and lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) express specific markers, which help their discrimination and easier identification. Since the coronary thrombi material aspirated from patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) proved as good angiogenesis model, we investigated the expression of CD34 and CD31 as BECs markers, and D2-40, LYVE-1 and VEGFR3 as LEC markers in this material.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aspirated thrombi were stained immunohistochemically for CD34, CD31, D2-40, LYVE-1 and VEGFR3. Organizational patterns of immunopositive cells were graded as single cells, clusters or microvessels. Double immunofluorescence for CD31, D2-40, LYVE-1 and VEGRF3 was done. Thrombi were also graded as fresh (<1day old), lytic (1-5days old) and organized (>5days old).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serial sections of aspirated thrombi showed concordant BEC and LEC markers immunopositivity. Double immunoflorescence proved co-expression of CD31 and LEC markers on the same cells. Cells expressing LEC markers organized in clusters and microvessels were mainly present in lytic and organized thrombi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-expression of BEC and LEC markers on the same non-tumorous cell during thrombus neovascularization indicates existing in vivo plasticity of endothelial cells under non-tumorous pathological conditions. It also points that CD34 and CD31 on one hand, and D2-40, LYVE-1 and VEGFR3 immunostaining on the other hand, cannot solely be a reliable indicators whether vessel is lymphatic or not.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 26 Višegradska Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rakocevic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, 444a Vojvode Stepe Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kojic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, 8 Dr Koste Todorovica Street, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 8 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orlic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, 8 Dr Koste Todorovica Street, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 8 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stankovic
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 8 Dr Subotica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostojic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, 8 Dr Koste Todorovica Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 26 Višegradska Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zaletel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 26 Višegradska Street, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Nela
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Puskas
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Stomatology in Pancevo, University Business Academy Novi Sad, 179 Zarka Zrenjanina Street, Pancevo, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Todorovic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 26 Višegradska Street, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: sborovic2001@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labudovic-Borovic
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; C119248:LYVE1 protein, human; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C581309:FLT4 protein, human; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3
keywords: CD31; CD34; Coronary thrombus aspiration; Coronary thrombus neovascularization; D2-40; LYVE-1; ST-elevation myocardial infarction; VEGFR3