A Histopathological Study of Mast Cells in Atheromatous Lesions on Autopsy Specimens
Introduction: Atherosclerosis is emerging as one of the leading causes of death globally. Role of mast cells in the development and progression of atherosclerosis has been proposed recently. Literature review has shown that few studies have demonstrated significant number of mast cells in athero...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd.
2021-04-01
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| Series: | National Journal of Laboratory Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.njlm.net/articles/PDF/2473/46316_CE[Ra]_F(Sh)_PF1(ShG_SHU)_PFA(SHU_ShG)_PN(SHU).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Atherosclerosis is emerging as one of the leading
causes of death globally. Role of mast cells in the development
and progression of atherosclerosis has been proposed recently.
Literature review has shown that few studies have demonstrated
significant number of mast cells in atherosclerotic plaques and
more at the site of plaque rupture. Whereas, few studies have
not found any significant increase in number of mast cells in
atherosclerotic plaques. The present study was undertaken
to know whether mast cells are significantly increased in
atherosclerotic lesions.
Aim: The aim of the study was to know the correlation between
mast cells and various grades of atherosclerosis.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional histopathological
study was conducted on 60 autopsy heart specimens (perinatal
and paediatric heart specimens were excluded) from October
2010 to October 2012 in Department of Pathology, Bangalore
Medical College & Research Institute. Sections were taken
from the Right Coronary Artery (RCA) and Left Coronary Artery
(LCA) and its branches, aorta and pulmonary artery and were
examined under the microscope for atheromatous lesions.
American Heart Association (AHA) grading of atherosclerosis
was used to grade atherosclerosis. Special stains for mast cells,
2% aqueous toluidine blue stain was employed on the sections
to demonstrate and quantify mast cells (per mm2
) in the arterial
intima. The corresponding grade and number of mast cells were
correlated.
Results: Of the total 360 arteries (includes all 6 arteries in each
of the 60 cases) studied, 206 arteries showed atherosclerotic
change. The most common artery involved was left anterior
descending artery (in 57 cases i.e., 95%) followed by the left
main coronary artery (in 48 cases i.e., 80%). Involvement of triple
vessels (20 cases i.e., 33.3%) was most common, followed by
four vessel involvement (18 cases i.e., 30%). Grade II (52 arteries
i.e., 25.2%) atherosclerosis was most common, followed by
grade IV (41 arteries i.e., 19.90%). Kruskal Wallis test showed
significant difference in the median mast cells in various grades
of atherosclerosis (p-value <0.05). Spearman’s correlation coefficient showed positive correlation between various grades
and number of mast cells in most of the arteries (except Left
Circumflex Artery (LCxA) showed negative correlation and no
statistical data could be derived for pulmonary artery as only
3/60 arteries showed atherosclerosis).
Conclusion: The present study has demonstrated that mast cells
are found in good number in atherosclerotic lesions of coronary
arteries and also with the progression of atherosclerosis, the
number of mast cells increased except in the LCxA. Identifying
the cellular participants and molecular mediators of inflammation
during atherogenesis may prove to be of immense help in the
treatment of coronary heart diseases. |
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| ISSN: | 2277-8551 2455-6882 |