Abstract 5810: Perivascular Cells Are a Potential Source of Chondrocyte-Like Cells in Atherosclerotic Lesions of Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice

TL;DRAbstract

Introduction: The presence of chondrocyte-like cells is a common phenomenon in mouse models of advanced atherosclerosis. However the source of those cells is still unclear. Since stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) positive cells have been found in the adventitia of apoE−/− mice and chondrogenic transformation of mesenchymal stem cell lineages has been described, we hypothesized that a possible source of the chondrocyte-like cells are perivascular Sca-1 positive cells. Methods: Innominate arteries of 23 weeks apoE−/− mice were immunostained for Sca-1, CD 45, CD 31 and Mac-2 and analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. The thoracic aortas, aortic arches and innominate arteries of apoE−/− mice and C57BL/6 controls were harvested from 13, 23 and 34 week old mice. The adventitia and attached perivascular tissue and the remaining aorta were both enzyme digested. The isolated cells were stained for Sca-1, CD 45, CD 31, CD 34, CD11b and F4/80 and sorted by flow cytometry using positive selection for Sca-

Chat with Paper

AI Agents for this Paper