Endothelial cell proliferation and monocyte adhesion to atherosclerotic lesions of white carneau pigeons.

Two of the early changes that occur at sites of developing atherosclerotic lesions in pigeon aortas are monocyte adhesion and endothelial proliferation. We characterized these events in the abdominal aortas of lesion-free young pigeons and in mature birds that developed either naturally occurring or cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis. Compared with mature animals, very young (7-day-old) pigeons had elevated endothelial cell labeling with 3H-thymidine in normal regions of aorta as quantitated by scanning electron microscopy. All regions of atherosclerosis exhibited at least a fivefold increase in both monocyte adhesion and endothelial proliferation. Adhesion and proliferation were highest at the developing edge of lesions. When naturally occurring lesions of 5-year-old birds were compared with lesions of younger birds fed a 0.5% cholesterol-supplemented diet for either 15 or 52 weeks, monocyte adhesion and endothelial cell proliferation were found to be similar. The same parameters were studied after regression of atherosclerosis in pigeons fed 0.5% cholesterol-supplemented diet for 1 year, followed by cholesterol-free diet for 2, 6, or 11 months. The regression regimen resulted in significant reduction in both monocyte adhesion and endothelial proliferation at lesion sites. It is concluded that progressing atherosclerotic lesions, whether occurring naturally or exacerbated by cholesterol feeding, have similar and significant increases in monocyte adhesion and endothelial cell proliferation. Regression of atherosclerotic lesions is accompanied by a decrease in these two cellular events.