PMID: 696809Oct 1, 1978Paper

Clonal characteristics in layers of human atherosclerotic plaques. A study of the selection hypothesis of monoclonality

The American Journal of Pathology
T A PearsonR H Heptinstall

Abstract

Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of monoclonal cell populations within human atherosclerotic plaques. The first of these proposes a mutational origin: the second suggests that the single clone of cells with the greatest proliferative advantage is selected following repetitive intimal injury. If the selection hypothesis is true, monoclonality should be observed more frequently in the layer of plaque most recently formed. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) isoenzymes were used as cellular markers in aortas of females heterozygous for the A and B isoenzymes. Ten plaques were divided into 45 portions, each of which was subdivided into upper layer, lower layer, and underlying media. No predominance of monoclonality was observed in the upper or lower layers of plaque, with 53% of samples from each layer being monoclonal. In all, 73% of portions of plaque contained at least one monoclonal layer. The layers tended to resemble each other in their clonal characteristics, with 60% of portions having layers with the same clonal characteristics. A significant correlation between isoenzyme distributions in upper and lower layers of the same portion was observed. No consistent trends in isoenzyme distribution in...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Atherosclerosis Disease Progression

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque on artery walls, causing stenosis which can eventually lead to clinically apparent cardiovascular disease. Find the latest research on atherosclerosis disease progression here.