Nerve growth factor levels and mast cell distribution in human coronary atherosclerosis

Nerve growth factor (NGF), in addition to its neurotrophic function, acts o n a variety of non-neuronal cells including immune cells and vascular smoot h muscle cells. The aim of the present study was to determine the NGF level s and the distribution of NGF and low-affinity NGF receptor (p75NGFR) and m ast cells (MC) in human atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Specimens of hum an coronary arteries obtained from autopsy cases (n = 12, subjects with ath erosclerotic lesions; n = 9, subjects without atherosclerotic lesions/contr ols) were used. The present study showed that in the atherosclerosis-lesion ed arteries, the amount of NGF decreased.. whereas the expression of p75NGF R immunoreactivity and the number, both of MC and vasa vasorum, particularl y in the adventitia, significantly increased, compared with the control art eries. Cumulatively, our findings help to set the neurotrophic theory and i ts currently extended neuroimmune framework into the context of pathobiolog y of atherosclerosis, suggesting that altered presence of NGF, p75NGFR, and MC may play a role in neuroimmune mechanisms of human coronary atheroscler osis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.