Morphological features of atherosclerotic plaque: modeling of atherosclerosis after stenting as a model of premature aging

Atherosclerosis and the installation of stents can be considered as a model of premature aging of the body. These processes are associated with chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, loss of cellular function, and impaired regeneration, which makes them a convenient model for studying the mechanisms of age-related pathology. The aim of the study was an immunohistochemical study for the following markers: α-SMA, c-kit, endothelin I on a model of generalized atherosclerosis in experimental animals. Material and methods. The experiment included 23 male rabbits of the Soviet Chinchilla breed, obtained from a certified nursery and kept in standardized conditions with controlled light, temperature and humidity. The animals were divided into three groups: intact rabbits (n=3), rabbits on a cholesterol diet (n=10) and rabbits on a cholesterol diet with a stent (n=10). Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of tissues was performed using standard techniques, including hematoxylin-eosin staining, detection of proteins α-SMA, endothelin-1 and c-Kit, morphometry using automated image analysis, statistical data processing was performed using StatTech v software.3.1.10. Results. The level of endothelin-1 increases sharply with atherosclerosis and increases especially strongly after the installation of a stent, which indicates a violation of the inner lining of the vessel and narrowing of the lumen of the arteries. The level of C-kit protein also increases markedly with atherosclerosis, and is even more pronounced after stenting, which indicates the activation of vascular repair processes. At the same time, the amount of α-SMA protein decreases as a signal of the loss of the ability of vascular muscle cells to contract and indicates an increase in inflammatory changes in the vascular wall. Conclusion. In the course of the study, an experimental model of atherosclerosis and stenting in rabbits was reproduced, which makes it possible to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of vascular pathology associated with premature aging. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant increase in the expression of α-SMA, endothelin-1 and c-Kit in atherosclerotic plaque, especially in the group of animals undergoing stenting, which indicates increased proliferation of smooth muscle cells and endothelial dysfunction. The data obtained confirm that a high-cholesterol diet and the installation of a stent cause not only structural changes in the vascular wall, but also activate inflammatory processes similar to those observed with age-related vascular changes in humans