BACKGROUND: Although the etiology of venous insufficiency is not well understood, immune response and aging are beginning to emerge as contributing factors. Factors involved in tissue remodeling such as TGF-beta(1) also seem to play an important role in extracellular matrix production. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between chronic venous insufficiency and TGF-beta(1) examining the latent/mature form of TGF-beta(1) and the presence of mast cells. Effects of age were also evaluated. METHODS: Saphenous veins were obtained from patients subjected to aortocoronary bypass (controls) and undergoing varicose vein surgery. These were immunolabeled using anti-LAP TGF-beta(1)/anti-TGF-beta(1) antibodies and subjected to Western blot. Mast cell population was identified by metachromatic staining. RESULTS: Latent TGF-beta(1) was significantly reduced in varicose veins from older subjects. In contrast, smooth muscle cells obtained from the varicosities showed intense levels. Mature TGF-beta(1) significantly differed between healthy and varicose veins. No mature TGF-beta(1) was detected in the cell cultures. Mast cell number and degranulation were increased with aging and varicose disease, colocalizing with the mature form of TGF-beta(1). CONCLUSION: Aging and varicose pathology induce dysregulation of TGF-beta(1) that could play an important role in the fibrous process, representing the final stages of venous insufficiency.
BACKGROUND: Although the etiology of venous insufficiency is not well understood, immune response and aging are beginning to emerge as contributing factors. Factors involved in tissue remodeling such as TGF-beta(1) also seem to play an important role in extracellular matrix production. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between chronic venous insufficiency and TGF-beta(1) examining the latent/mature form of TGF-beta(1) and the presence of mast cells. Effects of age were also evaluated. METHODS: Saphenous veins were obtained from patients subjected to aortocoronary bypass (controls) and undergoing varicose vein surgery. These were immunolabeled using anti-LAP TGF-beta(1)/anti-TGF-beta(1) antibodies and subjected to Western blot. Mast cell population was identified by metachromatic staining. RESULTS: Latent TGF-beta(1) was significantly reduced in varicose veins from older subjects. In contrast, smooth muscle cells obtained from the varicosities showed intense levels. Mature TGF-beta(1) significantly differed between healthy and varicose veins. No mature TGF-beta(1) was detected in the cell cultures. Mast cell number and degranulation were increased with aging and varicose disease, colocalizing with the mature form of TGF-beta(1). CONCLUSION: Aging and varicose pathology induce dysregulation of TGF-beta(1) that could play an important role in the fibrous process, representing the final stages of venous insufficiency.
Authors: Raymond L Benza; Christopher S Coffey; Dawn M Pekarek; Joseph P Barchue; Jose A Tallaj; Michael J Passineau; Hernan E Grenett Journal: J Heart Lung Transplant Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 10.247
Authors: Miguel A Ortega; Oscar Fraile-Martínez; Leonel Pekarek; Miguel A Alvarez-Mon; Ángel Asúnsolo; Lara Sanchez-Trujillo; Santiago Coca; Julia Buján; Melchor Álvarez-Mon; Natalio García-Honduvilla; Felipe Sainz Journal: Histol Histopathol Date: 2021-03-01 Impact factor: 2.303