Marek Gacko(1), Lech Chyczewski(2), Lech Chrostek(3)

Distribution, Activity and Concentration of Cathepsin B and Cystatin C in the Wall of Aortic Aneurysm

1)Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantology,
2)Department of Pathological Anatomy,
3)Department of Diagnostic Biochemistry, University Medical School, Bialystok

Abstract

Intensity of immunohistochemical reaction to cathepsin B is stronger and to cystatin C weaker in the wall of aortic aneurysm than in normal aorta. Localization of cathepsin B and cystatin C in the aneurysm wall is different from that in the control aorta, but activity and concentration of cystatin C in the aneurysmal wall is lower than in normal aorta. The parietal thrombus of aneurysm also shows high activity of cathepsin B. The obtained results point to participation of cathepsin B in degradation of aneurysmal structural proteins and in enlargement of the aneurysmal size.

Address for correspondence and reprint requests to:
M. Gacko M. D.,
Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantology,
M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 24a, 15-276 Bialystok.