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Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on December 14, 2004
Rheumatology 2005 44(4):484-487; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keh515
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Rheumatology Vol. 44 No. 4 © British Society for Rheumatology 2005; all rights reserved

Is apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells involved in the development of Takayasu arteritis? Suggestions from a case report

B. Bertipaglia, E. Faggin, U. Cillo1, G. Zanus1, A. Angelini2 and P. Pauletto

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, 1 Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences and 2 Department of Pathology, University of Padua, Italy.

Correspondence to: P. Pauletto, Medicina Interna I, Ospedale Cà Foncello, 31100 Treviso, Italy. E-mail: paolo.pauletto{at}unipd.it

Objectives. We report a female patient suffering from Takayasu arteritis (TA) who underwent surgical revascularization.

Methods. By studying specimens obtained at surgery, we evaluated the cell composition of the arterial wall, along with the maturation pattern of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) during the active phase of TA. Using TUNEL, we detected apoptotic cells within the tunica media.

Results. The highest percentage of apoptotic cells was found in areas where inflammatory infiltrate was present and the medial structure was more or less damaged. Apoptotic cells were also found in structurally preserved areas, where VSMC but not inflammatory cells were present.

Conclusions. Apoptosis involved not only inflammatory cells but also VSMC, particularly those of the immature type. We hypothesize a role for VSMC apoptosis in the development of TA.

KEY WORDS: Takayasu arteritis, Apoptosis, VSMC


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