Mast cells accompany microvessels in human coronary atheromas: implications for intimal neovascularization and hemorrhage

Mast cells have been assigned a role in neovascularization. Therefore, we examined the deep regions of human coronary atheromas, the areas known to be prone to neovascularization, for the presence of mast cells. Specimens of atherosclerotic human coronary intima from 37 autopsy cases with ages of 24–84 years were stained with elastica-van Gieson to detect atheroma formation and with monoclonal antibody against von Willebrand factor to detect neovascularization. Mast cells were detected by staining the atheromas with monoclonal antibodies against the two major proteases of mast cells, tryptase and chymase. Of the 24 coronary atheromas found, 13 contained mast cells in the deep regions. All these 13 deep regions also displayed neovascularization, and the number of microvessels and the number of mast cells around the microvessels correlated strongly with the size of the atheroma. On the other hand, of the 11 deep regions lacking mast cells, only one displayed neovascularization. In the neovascularized areas of the coronary atheromas, the mast cells were in close proximity to the microvessels. All the mast cells contained tryptase, and some of them chymase, both known for their angiogenic and matrix-degrading potential. In light microscopic studies, degranulated mast cells were observed indicating activation of these cells, with release of tryptase and chymase. The selective localization of activated mast cells containing angiogenic factors around newly formed microvessels in human coronary atheromas suggests that mast cells play a role in the neovascularization of these lesions. Moreover, mast cells may also, by virtue of their neutral proteases, injure the microvessels, and thereby produce intraplaque hemorrhages and, ultimately, unstable lesions.