Endothelial Cells of Atherosclerotic Coronary Arteries in vivo Obtained during Angioplasty (Intravascular Biopsy)

The relevance of our study is due to the unresolved problem of atherosclerosis, a disease that causes a greatest many disabilities and deaths. A definite value in its initiation, progression, and destabilization is assigned to endothelial cells, which are prone to pathological effects of various factors. In patients with atherosclerosis, it is impossible to obtain endothelial cells in vivo and in situ and, accordingly, to characterize their cytological features. Endothelial biopsy in this work was performed by coronary angioplasty in 64 patients with various clinical forms of coronary heart disease. A balloon catheter was used as a probe for biopsy. Preparations of endothelial biopsy were prepared using the principles of liquid-based cytology. Anucleated, polygonal cells with nuclei and their clusters, as well as apoptotic bodies with the immunophenotype CD31+, CD34+, CD105+/–, PanCk+/–, CD45–, and CD68–, have been obtained. It is confirmed that they belong to the endothelium, which shows that further cytological studies can be carried out with the purpose of evaluating the etiology and pathogenesis of atherosclerotic processes.