Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: reduced microvascular density and involvement of CD34+interstitial cells

Rodriguez, Josep M Monne, Fonfara, Sonja, Hetzel, Udo and Kipar, Anja ORCID: 0000-0001-7289-3459 (2022) Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: reduced microvascular density and involvement of CD34+interstitial cells. VETERINARY PATHOLOGY, 59 (2). pp. 269-283.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/03009858211062631

Abstract

The sequence of pathological events in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (fHCM) is still largely unknown, although we know that fHCM is characterized by interstitial remodeling in a macrophage-driven pro-inflammatory environment and that myocardial ischemia might contribute to its progression. This study aimed to gain further insights into the structural changes associated with interstitial remodeling in fHCM with special focus on the myocardial microvasculature and the phenotype of the interstitial cells. Twenty-eight hearts (16 hearts with fHCM and 12 without cardiac disease) were evaluated in the current study, with immunohistochemistry, RNA-in situ hybridization, and transmission electron microscopy. Morphometrical evaluations revealed a statistically significant lower microvascular density in fHCM. This was associated with structural alterations in capillaries that go along with a widening of the interstitium due to the accumulation of edema fluid, collagen fibers, and mononuclear cells that also proliferated locally. The interstitial cells were mainly of fibroblastic or vascular phenotype, with a substantial contribution of predominantly resident macrophages. A large proportion expressed CD34 mRNA, which suggests a progenitor cell potential. Our results indicate that microvascular alterations are key events in the pathogenesis of fHCM and that myocardial interstitial cell populations with CD34+ phenotype play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cats, heart, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, interstitial remodeling, microvascular alteration, progenitor stem cells
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	09 May 2022 08:53
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 21:03
DOI:	10.1177/03009858211062631
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1177%2F03009858211062631
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3154485