Immunohistochemical analysis of the natural killer cell cytotoxicity pathway in human abdominal aortic aneurysms

Int J Mol Sci. 2015 May 18;16(5):11196-212. doi: 10.3390/ijms160511196.

Abstract

Our previous analysis using genome-wide microarray expression data revealed extreme overrepresentation of immune related genes belonging the Natural Killer (NK) Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity pathway (hsa04650) in human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We followed up the microarray studies by immunohistochemical analyses using antibodies against nine members of the NK pathway (VAV1, VAV3, PLCG1, PLCG2, HCST, TYROBP, PTK2B, TNFA, and GZMB) and aortic tissue samples from AAA repair operations (n = 6) and control aortae (n = 8) from age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched donors from autopsies. The results confirmed the microarray results. Two different members of the NK pathway, HCST and GRZB, which act at different steps in the NK-pathway, were actively transcribed and translated into proteins in the same cells in the AAA tissue demonstrated by double staining. Furthermore, double staining with antibodies against CD68 or CD8 together with HCST, TYROBP, PTK2B or PLCG2 revealed that CD68 and CD8 positive cells expressed proteins of the NK-pathway but were not the only inflammatory cells involved in the NK-pathway in the AAA tissue. The results provide strong evidence that the NK Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity Pathway is activated in human AAA and valuable insight for future studies to dissect the pathogenesis of human AAA.

Keywords: AAA; aortic aneurysm; double-staining; human aorta; immunohistochemistry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / metabolism
  • Aorta, Abdominal / metabolism
  • Aorta, Abdominal / pathology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / immunology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / metabolism
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / pathology*
  • CD8 Antigens / metabolism
  • Female
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 2 / genetics
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Killer Cells, Natural / cytology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Phospholipase C gamma / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav / metabolism
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • CD68 antigen, human
  • CD8 Antigens
  • HCST protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-vav
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • TYROBP protein, human
  • VAV1 protein, human
  • VAV3 protein, human
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 2
  • PTK2B protein, human
  • Phospholipase C gamma