Immunocytochemical investigation of atherosclerotic changes observed in aortocoronary bypass vein grafts using monoclonal antibodies

The authors have performed immunocytochemical surveys on atherosclerotic changes observed in saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass grafts, comparing the changes occurring in coronary and aortic lesions. The two monoclonal antibodies used in this study were obtained by T. Tsukada. One of them, named HHF35, exhibited specificity to smooth muscle cells; the other, named HAM56, was specific to macrophages. These immunocytochemical studies clearly demonstrated that cells encountered within the fibrous intimal thickening in the vein graft were inevitably smooth muscle cell in origin. Macrophages were seldom seen in the grafts examined. In contrast to vein grafts, macrophages were noted within the intima of all specimens from arterial atherosclerotic lesions obtained from the same patients. These studies suggest a difference in the progression of intimal thickening between the venous graft and the arterial atherosclerotic lesions.