Transforming growth factor-β in graft vessels: histology and immunohistochemistry

OBJECTIVES: The biological functions of transforming growth factor-β signaling that involves Smad proteins have not been previously investigated with respect to coronary artery bypass grafts. The aim of the present study was to observe the immunostaining of proteins that are related to this signaling pathway. METHODS: Fifteen remnants of coronary artery bypass grafts, including nine saphenous veins, three radial arteries and three mammary arteries, were collected from 12 patients who were undergoing coronary artery bypass. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining of transforming growth factor-β1, type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, Smad2/3, Smad4, and Smad7 were performed. RESULTS: The saphenous veins showed more severe intimal degeneration, more severe smooth muscle cell proliferation and more collagen deposition than the arterial grafts, as evidenced by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stainings. Immunohistochemical assays demonstrated that the majority of the transforming growth factor-β1 signaling cytokines were primarily localized in the cytoplasm in the medial layers of all three types of grafts, whereas ectopic transforming growth factor-β1, type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, and Smad7 overexpressions in the interstices were observed particularly in the saphenous vein and radial arterial grafts. CONCLUSION: Enhanced transforming growth factor-β1 signal transduction with medial smooth muscle cell proliferation and ectopic transforming growth factor-β1, the presence of the type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, and Smad7 overexpressions in the extracellular matrix may provide primary evidence for early or late graft failure

Transforming growth factor-β in graft vessels: histology and immunohistochemistry

OBJECTIVES: The biological functions of transforming growth factor-β signaling that involves Smad proteins have not been previously investigated with respect to coronary artery bypass grafts. The aim of the present study was to observe the immunostaining of proteins that are related to this signaling pathway. METHODS: Fifteen remnants of coronary artery bypass grafts, including nine saphenous veins, three radial arteries and three mammary arteries, were collected from 12 patients who were undergoing coronary artery bypass. Hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining of transforming growth factor-β1, type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, Smad2/3, Smad4, and Smad7 were performed. RESULTS: The saphenous veins showed more severe intimal degeneration, more severe smooth muscle cell proliferation and more collagen deposition than the arterial grafts, as evidenced by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stainings. Immunohistochemical assays demonstrated that the majority of the transforming growth factor-β1 signaling cytokines were primarily localized in the cytoplasm in the medial layers of all three types of grafts, whereas ectopic transforming growth factor-β1, type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, and Smad7 overexpressions in the interstices were observed particularly in the saphenous vein and radial arterial grafts. CONCLUSION: Enhanced transforming growth factor-β1 signal transduction with medial smooth muscle cell proliferation and ectopic transforming growth factor-β1, the presence of the type I receptor of transforming growth factor-β, and Smad7 overexpressions in the extracellular matrix may provide primary evidence for early or late graft failure

Bis(2-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)(thio­cyanato-κN)zinc (2-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)tris­(thio­cyanato-κN)zincate

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Zn(NCS)(C12H7ClN2)2][Zn(NCS)3(C12H7ClN2)], contains two cations and two anions. In the cations, the ZnII ions have distorted trigonal–bipyramidal environments formed by four N atoms from two 2-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline (cphen) ligands and one N atom from a thio­cyanate ligand. The ZnII atoms in the complex anions also have distorted trigonal–bipyramidal environments, formed by two N atoms from a cphen ligand and three N atoms from three thio­cyanato ligands. The crystal packing exhibits π–π inter­actions between the rings of the cphen ligands [shortest centroid–centroid distance = 3.586 (5) Å] and short inter­molecular S⋯Cl [3.395 (5) Å] and S⋯S [3.440 (4) Å] contacts

4-(6-Quinolyl­oxymeth­yl)benzonitrile

The title compound, C17H12N2O, was synthesized by an ether synthesis from quinolin-6-ol and 4-(bromo­meth­yl)benzonitrile. The phenyl ring of the benzonitrile group makes a dihedral angle of 47.52 (6)° with the plane of the quinoline fragment. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions between a benzene H atom of the benzonitrile group and the benzene ring of the quinoline fragment. In addition, the crystal structure also exhibits a weak inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bond