Abstract：
To clarify the characteristics and origin of the cellular components in atherosclerosis, carotid atherosclerotic plaques (CAPs) of four patients were studied by light microscopy using hematoxylin-eosin, Congo red and alpha-smooth-muscle actin stains, and by transmission electron microscopy of different regions of CAPs. By light microscopy, CAPs were composed of 1) a fibrous cap; 2) an atherosclerotic core presenting focal fibrosis, neovascularization, hemorrhage, necrosis, chondrification and ossification; and 3) a basal band composed of a hyperplasic pseudo-media and affected tunica media. Ultrastructurally, the CAPs contained a diversity of cells including fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, osteochondrocytes, vascular smooth-muscle cells, foam cells and other myoid cells characterized by varied features of the above mentioned cells. The results indicated that CAPs were derived from a proliferation of multipotential mesenchymal stem cells, leading to the presence of degenerated foam cells and lipid-laden cells.
摘要：
阐明动脉粥样硬化中细胞成分的特征和起源，使用苏木精-伊红通过光学显微镜研究了四名患者的颈动脉粥样硬化斑块（CAPs），刚果红和α-平滑肌肌动蛋白染色，并通过不同区域的CAPs的透射电子显微镜。通过光学显微镜,CAPs由1）纤维帽组成；2）呈现局灶性纤维化的动脉粥样硬化核心，新生血管形成,出血,坏死,软骨形成和骨化；3）由增生的假中膜和受影响的中膜组成的基底带。超微结构，CAPs包含多种细胞，包括成纤维细胞，肌成纤维细胞，骨软骨细胞，血管平滑肌细胞,泡沫细胞和其他肌样细胞，其特征是上述细胞的不同特征。结果表明，CAPs来源于多能间充质干细胞的增殖，导致退化的泡沫细胞和脂质负载细胞的存在。
