Endothelial cilia in human aortic atherosclerotic lesions. 1987

M D Haust

"Primary" cilia were present in the endothelial cells of human aortic fatty dots and streaks but not in those of normal intima. They had the features of cilia of the "9 + 0" axonemal configuration observed in many other cells. A lateral foot process and transitional fibers "anchored" the ciliary basal body in the cytoplasm, but rootlets were not identified in material examine. Ladder-like configurations interconnected the two centrioles (= diplosome) of control endothelium. The "primary" cilia of endothelium differed from those of the rudimentary type observed in smooth muscle cells in similar lesions of man, but shared many features with cilia of those present in experimental atherosclerosis in rabbit. Cilia were rarely described in vascular endothelium. It is believed that, to date, they were not reported to occur in normal or pathological arteries in man. It is being stressed that whereas the significance of these unusual organelles remains uncertain, their widespread occurrence may indicate that their role is more important than was believed previously, and they should cease being a curiosity only.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D002502 Centrioles Self-replicating, short, fibrous, rod-shaped organelles. Each centriole is a short cylinder containing nine pairs of peripheral microtubules, arranged so as to form the wall of the cylinder. Centriole
D002923 Cilia Populations of thin, motile processes found covering the surface of ciliates (CILIOPHORA) or the free surface of the cells making up ciliated EPITHELIUM. Each cilium arises from a basic granule in the superficial layer of CYTOPLASM. The movement of cilia propels ciliates through the liquid in which they live. The movement of cilia on a ciliated epithelium serves to propel a surface layer of mucus or fluid. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Motile Cilia,Motile Cilium,Nodal Cilia,Nodal Cilium,Primary Cilia,Primary Cilium,Cilium,Cilia, Motile,Cilia, Nodal,Cilia, Primary,Cilium, Motile,Cilium, Nodal,Cilium, Primary
D004727 Endothelium A layer of epithelium that lines the heart, blood vessels (ENDOTHELIUM, VASCULAR), lymph vessels (ENDOTHELIUM, LYMPHATIC), and the serous cavities of the body. Endotheliums
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001011 Aorta The main trunk of the systemic arteries. Aortas
D001161 Arteriosclerosis Thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of ARTERIES of all sizes. There are many forms classified by the types of lesions and arteries involved, such as ATHEROSCLEROSIS with fatty lesions in the ARTERIAL INTIMA of medium and large muscular arteries. Arterioscleroses

Related Publications

M D Haust
February 1995, Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!