Increased expression and co-localization of ACE, angiotensin II AT(1) receptors and inducible nitric oxide synthase in atherosclerotic human coronary arteries.

TL;DRAbstract

Using immunohistochemistry and quantitative in vitro autoradiography, the present study was undertaken to examine whether co-expression of pro-atherosclerotic factors, ACE, the AT(1) receptor, and iNOS, is increased in early and advanced atherosclerotic lesions of human coronary arteries. In normal coronary arteries, ACE and eNOS were strongly co-expressed in endothelial cells (ECs), whereas the AT(1) receptor was expressed in medial smooth muscle cells (SMCs). By contrast, iNOS was not expressed in ECs and SMCs. In early atherosclerotic lesions and atheromatous plaques, ACE, the AT(1) receptor and iNOS immunostaining were primarily co-localized in infiltrated macrophages and SMCs adjacent to macrophages. eNOS expression was lower in ECs than in normal arteries, and absent in accumulated macrophages and SMCs. In fibrosclerotic plaques, ACE, the AT(1) receptor, and iNOS immunostaining were still positive in macrophages as well as new microvessels within the plaques. Interestingly, SMCs

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