ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the pathological characteristics of the expressions of associated proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells and infiltration of macrophages in elderly abdominal aortic aneurysms. MethodsHE stained slices, Van Gieson' s stained slices and immunohistochemical staining were applied to detect protein expression in the tissue sections of 15 cases of elderly abdominal aortic aneurysms and 6 cases of normal abdominal aorta. The protein expressions of α-smooth muscle actin, cathepsin B and CD68 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. ResultsCompared with normal abdominal aorta, the collagen content was higher in elderly abdominal aortic aneurysms [(9.3 ± 1.9) % vs. (5.3±1.8) %, P ＜ 0.05]. The levels ofexpression of cathepsin B and CD68 were higher in elderly abdominal aortic aneurysms than those in normal abdominal aorta , but the level of expression of α-SMA was lower in elderly abdominal aorticaneurysms than that in normal abdominal aorta[(0.38±0.07) vs. (0.135=0.06), (0.51±0.12) vs.(0.01±0.01), (0.23±0.05) vs. (0.335±0.05) ,respectively, all P＜0.05]. ConclusionsChanges in the expression of associated proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells and infiltration of macrophages may participate in the vascular walls destruction in elderly abdominal aortic aneurysms.
