Possible involvement of notch signaling in the pathogenesis of Buerger's disease

Hiroaki Tamai, Masayoshi Kobayashi, Kyousuke Takeshita, Akio Kodama, Hiroshi Banno, Hiroshi Narita, Kiyohito Yamamoto, Kimihiro Komori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: Under pathological conditions, the Notch signal pathway is involved in the inflammatory process in arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis and angiogenesis under ischemic conditions. The purpose of this study was to observe whether or not Buerger's disease is associated with Notch signal activation. Methods: All the patients were diagnosed between 1980 and 2009 at Nagoya University Hospital. Twenty-two specimens from 12 patients with Buerger's disease (TAO) and 13 specimens from nine patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for Notch1, Jagged-1 (a Notch ligand) and Hes-1 (a Notch 1 target transcription factor). Results: Notch1 and Jagged-1 were highly expressed in the endothelium in the new vasa vasorum and in the smooth muscle cells in the media of specimens from both groups. These Notch-related proteins were also remarkably expressed in inflammatory cells in the intima of specimens from TAO patients. Fewer inflammatory cells expressed Notch-related proteins in atheromatous plaques (Notch1 (%): 8.4 ± 0.76 versus 1.3 ± 0.43, P < 0.001; Jagged-1(%): 9.3 ± 1.1 versus 5.2 ± 1.1, P = 0.03). Indeed, Hes-1, which is a transcription factor downstream of Notch1, was remarkably expressed in the endothelium of new capillary vessels and inflammatory cells in TAO patients. Notch1-positive mononuclear cells were also seen in the thrombus in samples from the TAO group. Conclusions: Our findings are the first demonstration that Notch signal activation in inflammatory cells may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanism underlying Buerger's disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)307-313
Number of pages7
JournalSurgery Today
Volume44
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 02-2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Possible involvement of notch signaling in the pathogenesis of Buerger's disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this