Relationship between the concentration of antibodies to myosin heavy chains in serum and symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis
Kaźmierski, R.ła.; Baumann-Antczak, A.; Kozubski, W.
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska 36(2): 235-243
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-3843 PMID: 12046501 Document Number: 548254
It is believed that atherosclerosis could result from inflammatory-fibroproliferative response to various forms of injury of endothelium and smooth muscle cells of arterial wall. The aim of this study was to examine whether immunological reaction against myosin filaments of carotid artery (CA) wall smooth muscle cells is involved in atherogenesis. 43 patients (22 females) with first-ever ischaemic stroke proven by CT were investigated. The results were compared with those obtained in 40 (21 females) healthy sex- and age-matched subjects. Anti-myosin antibodies (AMA) were evaluated by solid phase radioimmunoassay using rabbit myosin heavy chains as an antigen. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of common and CA--a measure for atherosclerosis--was estimated with the use of high-resolution ultrasonography. The AMA serum concentration in stroke patients was significantly greater than in control subjects (p < 0.001). Mean IMT for CA in stroke patients was significantly increased compared with the controls (0.98 +/- 0.17 mm vs. 0.68 +/- 0.13 mm; p < 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between AMA serum antibodies concentration and IMT (r = 0.51; p < 0.001). The significant correlation between AMA concentration and IMT of CA is the basis of the hypothesis that immunological reaction against myosin heavy chains of smooth muscle cells in CA is involved in atherogenesis.