Altered collagen expression in jugular veins in multiple sclerosis

Coen, Matteo; Menegatti, Erica; Salvi, Fabrizio; Mascoli, Francesco; Zamboni, Paolo; Gabbiani, Giulio; Bochaton-Piallat, Marie-Luce

doi:10.1016/j.carpath.2012.05.005

Scientific article

English

Altered collagen expression in jugular veins in multiple sclerosis

Contributors

Coen, Matteo

; Menegatti, Erica; Salvi, Fabrizio; Mascoli, Francesco; Zamboni, Paolo; Gabbiani, Giulio; Bochaton-Piallat, Marie-Luce

Published in

Cardiovascular pathology, vol. 22, no. 1, p. 33-38

Publication date

2013

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Venous abnormalities have been associated with different neurological conditions, and the presence of a vascular involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been anticipated. In view of the recent debate regarding the existence of cerebral venous outflow impairment in MS due to abnormalities of the azygos or internal jugular veins (IJVs), we have studied the morphological and biological features of IJVs in MS patients. METHODS: We examined (a) IJVs specimens from MS patients who underwent surgical reconstruction of the IJV and specimens of the great saphenous vein used for surgical reconstruction, (b) different vein specimens from an MS patient dead of an unrelated cause, and (c) autoptical and surgical IJV specimens from patients without MS. Collagen deposition was assessed by means of Sirius red staining followed by polarized light examination. The expression of collagen type I and III, cytoskeletal proteins (α-smooth muscle actin and smooth muscle myosin heavy chains), and inflammatory markers (CD3 and CD68) was investigated. RESULTS: The extracranial veins of MS patients showed focal thickenings of the wall characterized by a prevailing yellow-green birefringence (corresponding to thin, loosely packed collagen fibers) correlated to a higher expression of type III collagen. No differences in cytoskeletal protein and inflammatory marker expression were observed. DISCUSSION: The IJVs of MS patients presenting a focal thickening of the vein wall are characterized by the prevalence of loosely packed type III collagen fibers in the adventitia. Further studies are required to determine whether the observed venous alterations play a role in MS pathogenesis.

UNIGE affiliation entities

Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine fondamentale / Département de pathologie et immunologie

UNIGE research groups

Bochaton-Piallat Marie-Luce (pathologie et immunologie) (646)

Citation (ISO format)

COEN, Matteo et al. Altered collagen expression in jugular veins in multiple sclerosis. In: Cardiovascular pathology, 2013, vol. 22, n° 1, p. 33–38. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2012.05.005

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

PID : unige:26261
DOI : 10.1016/j.carpath.2012.05.005
PMID : 22770861

Journal ISSN

1054-8807

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Creation

09/11/2012 12:07:00

First validation

09/11/2012 12:07:00

Update

14/03/2023 20:02:00

Status update

14/03/2023 20:02:00

Last indexation

29/01/2025 17:09:18

Altered collagen expression in jugular veins in multiple sclerosis

Contributors

Published in

Publication date

Abstract

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

Main files (1)

Identifiers

Journal ISSN

Technical informations

Creation

First validation

Update

Status update

Last indexation