Relationship between chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan and coronary atherosclerosis in the youth.

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) and coronary atherosclerosis in youth.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Immunohistochemistry of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan and SM-alpha-actin was performed on 39 human coronary arteries, including normal vessels and vessels with fatty streaks, intermediate lesions and plaques. Some of the lesional vessels were taken for beta-lipoprotein immunohistochemical study. CSPG contents were quantitated by image analyzer and the coronary arteries from one heart were processed for immunoelectron microscopy.

RESULTS

The range of CSPG distribution was extensive and CSPG area density was increased significantly in the intima with atherosclerotic lesions. The increase of CSPG was parallel to the numbers of smooth muscle cell (SMC) with positive SM-alpha-actin reaction and was likely related to the phenotype transformation of SMC. Similar distribution of beta-lipoprotein and CSPG were found within the lesional regions.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase of CSPG in atherosclerotic lesion may be an important factor resulting in the deposition of lipids in the vascular wall so as to promote the formation and development of atherosclerosis.