VCAM-1 EXPRESSION AND NETWORK OF VCAM-1 POSITIVE VASCULAR DENDRITIC CELLS IN ADVANCED ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS OF CAROTID ARTERIES AND AORTAS

This study was undertaken to determine whether vascular dendritic cell s (VDCs) display VCAM-1 in atherosclerotic lesions. Specimens of carot id artery and aorta were obtained at operation. All the plaques contai ned VCAM-1(+) cells, but VCAM-1 immunoreactivity was,irregularly distr ibuted being mainly associated with the zones of neovascularisation in the base of the atherosclerotic plaques. Vascular dendritic cells wer e identified with DAKO-CD1a. Alternative parallel sections were staine d with either anti-CD1a or anti-VCAM-1. By comparison of consecutive p arallel sections the CD1a(+) vascular dendritic cells were shown to ex press VCAM-1, this expression being most obvious in those sites where the vascular dendritic cells were located separate from other intimal cells. In some areas networks formed by VCAM-1(+) vascular dendritic c ells were observed suggesting that cellular networks may mediate a loc al immune response in atherosclerotic lesions. We speculate that VCAM- 1 is involved in the formation of cell-to-cell contacts of vascular de ndritic cells in atherogenesis.