Inflammatory cell reaction and mast cells in aortic intima and pulmonary artery of humans at early stages of atherosclerosis

: The study of inflammatory reaction and morphofunctional characteristics of mast cells in aortic intima and pulmonary artery at initial stages of atherosclerosis was performed in 62 persons who had died of accidental causes at the ages of 4-49 years and 44 males who had died of myocardial infarction at the age of 42-73 years. Histological, histochemical and immunocytochemical tests showed permanent presence of lymphocyte-monocytic cell reaction in combination with mast cell infiltration in arterial intima that progressed with age and development of atherosclerosis. Lipoidosis was associated with an increase of T lymphocytes with (CD4+) domination, monocytes/macrophages (CD11+) and mast cells in different functional activity. Marked hyperplasia and high secretory activity of mast cells (expressed in their massive degranulation) were observed in acute myocardial infarction in aortic intima and pulmonary artery.