Cardiovascular System Pathology

PECAM-1 has the distinctive feature of being expressed on several of the major cell types associated with the vascular compartment. This makes it iniquely positioned to mediate multiple and important cell-cell interactions involving platelets, leukocytes and endothelial cells, and may represent a potential target for new therapeutic agents. Morphological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on 20 human mitral valves, taken from 12 males and 8 females, mean age was 59 years. Adhesive molecule the PECAM-1 was detected with PAP method on endocardial and vascular endothelial cells of mitral valves. We observed that only a group of endocardial endothelial cells expressed the tested adhesive molecule. an intensive expression on PECAM-1 was visible in the mitral valve with numerous ssmall blood vessels. Smooth muscle cells located nearbz the nexlz created blood vessels, also shown intensively positive reaction on PECAM-1. Immunoreactivity of PECAM-1 is distinctly intensive of endothelial cells of small blood vessels of the valves stroma. Endothelial cells of the stroma of newly created blood vessels shown a weak of immunoreactivity against PECAM-1 in comparison to small diametar blood vessels. Intensive imunoreactivity against PECAM-1 shown endothelial cells of stromal vessels surrounded with infiltration of mononuclear cells. The most intensive reactivity of PECAM-1 shows endothelial cells of small blood vessels of valves, stroma and endothelial cells of the stromal vessels surrounded by mononuclear cells.