RESUMO
AIM: To observe the relationship between aortic atherosclerosis plaque formation and telomerase activation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). METHODS:Iliac artery atherosclerosis plaque from 20 renal failure patients and five cases of normal iliac arteries were obtained and confirmed by histological examination. The endothelial cells and the connective tissue on surface were lightly scraped and removed. Telomerase activity of the residual tissue was detected by telomeric repeat sequence amplification protocol. RESULTS:Five cases of normal iliac arteries showed negative telomerase activity. Eight of 20 cases athorosclerosis plaque showed positive telomerase activity, the other 12 cases showed negative telomerase activity. CONCLUSION: Telomerase activation may play a certain role in VSMC proliferation and atherosclerosis formation.