Deterioration of the aortic wall resulting in formation of aneurysms may be caused by increased activity of metalloproteases and lysosomal proteases. The aim of this work was the evaluation of cathepsin D and cathepsin L activities, and activities of inhibitors of cysteine cathepsins in the wall of aortic aneurysms and in parietal thrombus. Aortic aneurysms were obtained during operation. Aortas taken from organ donors and blood clots were used as control material. Activities of cathepsin D and cathepsin L in the aortic aneurysm wall and parietal thrombus were higher than in the control groups. The aneurysm wall showed lower activity of inhibitors of cysteine proteases than the normal aorta. Parietal thrombus had a higher level of cysteine protease inhibitor activity than blood clot. Cathepsin D and cathepsin L present in the aneurysm wall and in the parietal thrombus filling the aneurysm may act on proteins determining elasticity and mechanical resistance of arteries.
The aim of the study was to examine the content and molecular differentiation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the wall of varicose veins. The studied material consisted of normal, varicose veins and varicose veins complicated by thrombophlebitis collected during operations on 26 patients. In the wall of varicose veins the mean GAGs’ content as well as the content of sulphated GAGs, except heparan sulphate was increased, whereas the amount of hyaluronic acid was decreased. Furthermore, the increased quantitative ratio between sulphated and nonsulphated GAGs was demonstrated. The results indicate an evident extracellular matrix remodelling in the wall of varicose veins particularly those complicated by thrombophlebitis, that is characterised by alterations in the content and molecular differentiation of GAGs.
Cathepsin D activity and the content of proteins and acid-soluble tyrosine in the walls of varicose veins, thrombophlebitic varicose veins and normal saphenous veins were determined. It was found that the cathepsin D activity in the wall of varicose veins is almost 1.5 times as high as that activity in a thrombophlebitic varicose vein wall and more than 3 times higher than in the wall of a normal vein. The acid-soluble tyrosine content of the varicose vein was slightly higher than that of the normal vein, whereas the content of the thrombophlebitic varicose vein was more than 1.5 times as high as that of the normal vein. Cathepsin D has a destructive effect on the varicose vein wall and accelerates the removal of thrombi in varicophlebitis.
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