title: Bacteria of leg atheromatous arteries responsible for inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischaemia of the lower limbs is frequently followed by inflammation and, in advanced cases, necrosis of peripheral tissues. Whether this is caused by arterial hypoperfusion only or by the presence of bacteria in the arterial walI as well remains unclear. The aim of the study was to prove the presence and source of bacteria in arterial specimens and evaluate their chemotactic properties resulting in the formation of periarterial cellular infiltrates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bacterial culture and testing for 16sRNA were performed in fragments of popliteal artery harvested from amputated limbs. Carotid artery plaques served as controls. Fragments of arteries were transplanted into scid mice to evaluate their chemotactic activity for macrophages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a) higher prevalence of isolates and 16sRNA in atherosclerotic popliteal than carotid arteries, b) high density of plaque and periarterial infiltrates and mRNA level for pro-inflammatory cytokines in popliteal arteries, c) prevalent microbes were Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and Enterococci, d) foot skin and arterial bacterial phenotypes and DNA revealed evident similarities, and e) more intensive mouse macrophage accumulation in popliteal than carotid implants into scid mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of bacteria in the lower limb arterial wall was documented. They may predispose to inflammation secondary to ischaemic changes.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgical Research & Transplantation, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.|2 Department of Vascular Surgery, Central Clinical Hospital, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Warsaw, Poland.|4 Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Waldemar Lech
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Olszewski
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgical Research & Transplantation, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rutkowska
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgical Research & Transplantation, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.|4 Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moscicka-Wesolowska
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Microbiology, Medical University, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swoboda-Kopec
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgical Research & Transplantation, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.|3 Department of Microbiology, Medical University, Warsaw, Poland.|4 Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stelmach
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgical Research & Transplantation, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.|2 Department of Vascular Surgery, Central Clinical Hospital, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Warsaw, Poland.|4 Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.|5 Department of Applied Physiology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marzanna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaleska
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgical Research & Transplantation, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zagozda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000637:transplantation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D021521:Ribotyping
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Artery; Staphyloccocus; bacteria; infection