The content of collagen type II in human arteries is correlated with the stage of atherosclerosis and calcification foci.

OBJECTIVE: The signature processes during atherosclerosis development are arterial calcification and accumulation in the arterial walls of proteins that are specific to bone and cartilage, e.g., collagen type II. The purpose of this study was to characterize localization of collagen type II and quantify its content in human arteries.

RESULTS: The study was conducted on sections of thoracic and abdominal aortas (n=97) subjected to histological evaluation and classified into six grades according to the Stary scale of the atherosclerosis severity. Three types of samples were distinguished from the group of arteries: (1) without macroscopically visible calcifications, (2) with macroscopically visible calcifications dispersed within the arterial wall, and (3) calcium deposits isolated from the walls tested with respect to the segment of the artery from which they had originated. The results demonstrate that both cholesterol and collagen type II content are significantly higher in samples with calcification, whereas collagen type II is localized mainly in the tissue around the calcium deposit. A positive correlation has been shown between the levels of collagen type II and cholesterol (r=0.57, P<.05). A similar trend was observed with respect to the grade of atherosclerosis (r=0.43, P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The amount of collagen type II is higher in the tissue around the calcium deposit. The correlation was observed between the quantityof collagen type II, the grade of atherosclerosis, and cholesterol.