Ex vivo culture of human atherosclerotic plaques: A model to study immune cells in atherogenesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The mechanisms that drive atherosclerotic plaque progression and destabilization in humans remain largely unknown. Laboratory models are needed to study these mechanisms under controlled conditions. The aim of this study was to establish a new ex vivo model of human atherosclerotic plaques that preserves the main cell types in plaques and the extracellular components in the context of native cytoarchitecture.

Methods

Atherosclerotic plaques from carotid arteries of 28 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were dissected and cultured. At various time-points, samples were collected and analysed histologically. After enzymatic digestion, single cells were analysed with flow cytometry. Moreover, tissue cytokine production was evaluated.

Results

We

SUBMITTER: Lebedeva A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5811192 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature