Tenascin expression is associated with a chronic inflammatory process in abdominal aortic aneurysms

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 670 - 675
• Main Authors: Satta, Jari, Soini, Ylermi, Pöllänen, Raimo, Pääkkö, Paavo, Juvonen, Tatu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.10.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aorta, Abdominal - metabolism; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - metabolism; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - pathology; Aortic Diseases - metabolism; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Chronic Disease; Diseases of the aorta; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Tenascin - metabolism; Human; Tenascin; Pathophysiology; Aneurysm; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Glycoproteins; Histology; Inflammation; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Abdominal aorta; Pathology; Chronic; Aortic disease
• ISSN: 0741-5214; 1097-6809
• DOI: 10.1016/S0741-5214(97)70068-5

Purpose: This study was performed to test whether tenascin, a large oligomeric glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix, is present in AAA disease and whether it could play a pathophysiologic role in the development of this disease. Methods: Tenascin immunoreactivity was investigated from samples of the aneurysmal walls of 17 patients with AAAs, and the results were compared with the results of those of six patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOD) and one normal control patient. To study the source of tenascin mRNA synthesis, some tissue samples were also examined with a tenascin RNA probe by in situ hybridization. Results: The difference in immunoreactivity between the AODs and AAAs was especially prominent in the adventitial layer, where the specimens from AAAs displayed strong diffuse and reticular immunostaining. In AAAs the immunostaining was clearly associated with the degree of mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate and with the neovascularization of the adventitial layer. Conclusion: Tenascin expression is evident in AAA disease and is distinctly associated with mononuclear inflammatory cells. The adhesive properties of tenascin may offer a relevant explanation for the mechanism by which monocytes transmigrate into the aortic wall. The definitive role of tenascin in AAA process may be more complex, however, and will necessitate further investigation. (J Vasc Surg 1997;26:670-5.)