Lack of CD73 promotes atherogenesis most likely by de-inhibition of resident macrophages and T cells. Elevated Edn1 and TG levels may have contributed. This establishes CD73-derived adenosine as a direct or indirect regulator of atherogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have addressed the optimal storage conditions for vascular grafts during surgery. The results remain contradictionary. This may be attributed to the fact, that the various vascular beds have a different sensitivity to storage. We analyzed the impact of storage in isotonic saline solution (NaCl) or heparinized blood the vascular functions of human saphenous vein grafts. Special care was taken to choose storage conditions which are relevant for intraoperative storage of a saphenous vein graft in a setting of coronary artery bypass grafting with vein and internal mammary artery as grafts. METHODS: Intraoperatively isolated V. saphena-segments (n = 36) were stored in NaCl or heparinized blood for approximately 30 minutes at room temperature. Subsequently, the segments were examined in a Mulvany-myograph. Following preconstriction with norepinephrine, concentration-relaxation curves were assessed for bradykinin and sodium-nitroprusside to assess developed vessel-wall tension as well as endothelium-and smooth-muscle-cell dependent vasorelaxation. The availability of adenosintriphosphate (energy charge) was determined based on liquid chromatography measurements of nucleotide tissue levels. RESULTS: Mean storage time was 27.4 ± 2.4 min in NaCl-and 26.3 ± 2.7 min in blood-group, respectively. After this period, receptor-dependent and-independent maximum of developed vessel wall tension was significantly reduced in NaCl-group (p = 0.05 and p = 0.045, respectively). Furthermore, the energy charge was significantly (p = 0.046) better preserved after blood storage (74 ± 1%) in comparison to NaCl-group (68 ± 2%). Endothelium-induced vasodilatation in response to bradykinin reached only 12.3 ± 2.5% in NaCl-group, but 19.3 ± 5.2% in blood-group (p = 0.033). Alike, EC 50 -concentration of bradykinin for half-maximal relaxation was significantly lower in blood-than in NaCl-group (log EC 50 −7.08 ± 0.3 and −5.91 ± 0.4; respectively; p = 0.046). Endothelium-independent smooth muscle relaxation in response to sodium-nitroprusside was not different between both groups. CONCLUSION: Heparinized blood better preserves vascular contractile and endothelial functions of the saphenous vein graft. Storage in NaCl rapidly compromises vascular functions and impaires cellular energy. NaCl should no longer be recommended for intraoperative storage of harvested V. saphena grafts.

In contrast to traditional HTK, NaCl, or PSS storage, TiProtec solution offers an excellent potential for prolonged cold storage of human arteries, which may close the existing gap between legal requirements for tissue banking and current cold preservation methods.

Stage pT1 bladder cancer (BC) shows highly diverse outcomes. Predictive markers are required to stratify patients for personalized treatment. The present study aimed to validate immune response quantification as a prognostic marker. Patients with pT1 BC (n = 167) treated by transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) were enrolled. Formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded material was stained for CD3 and CD8. Corresponding T cells were counted in three regions with the highest immune response. Numbers of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and lymphocyte aggregates (LA) were quantified. High CD3+ stroma T-cell infiltration was associated with improved survival (p = 0.045), especially in the G3 subgroup (p = 0.01). Cluster with higher immune response showed less recurrence (p = 0.034) and favorable overall survival (OS) (p = 0.019). In contrast, higher CD3+ and CD8+ tumor T-cell infiltration seemed to have a negative impact on prognosis. TLS and LA were more frequently observed in G3 tumors, indicating an increased anti-tumoral immune response. We proved the role of immune cell infiltration and showed that higher infiltration numbers of CD3+ (not CD8+) lymphocytes in the stroma are associated with favorable outcome. Immune cell quantification could be used as a marker to help stratify patients’ risk and therefore, to optimize patients’ management and follow-up examination as well as possible therapies.